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Gastrointestinal Emergencies pp 143–145Cite as

Diagnosis: What Historical Features and Laboratory Test(s) Are the Most Helpful to Make the Diagnosis? Is There Really a Normal Lipase with Active Pancreatitis? What “Red Flags” Suggest a Complicated Course?

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Abstract

Acute pancreatitis is defined as abdominal pain in the epigastric area with elevated pancreatic enzymes or signs of pancreatitis on advanced imaging. Two out of three characteristics are required to make the diagnosis. Both pancreatic enzymes amylase and lipase may be elevated, but lipase is more specific and can be used alone to make the diagnosis. Most cases of pancreatitis are mild and require only supportive care; however, signs of dehydration, infection, and persistent inflammation may indicate a more complicated course. It is difficult to determine learnersdictionary.com in the emergency department which patients will have a more severe course.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Travis A. Thompson

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  1. Travis A. Thompson
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    Autumn Graham

  2. Department of Emergency Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    David J. Carlberg

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Thompson, T.A. (2019). Diagnosis: What Historical Features and Laboratory Test(s) Are the Most Helpful to Make the Diagnosis? Is There Really a Normal Lipase with Active Pancreatitis? What “Red Flags” Suggest a Complicated Course?. In: Graham, A., Carlberg, D.J. (eds) Gastrointestinal Emergencies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98343-1_41

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98343-1_41

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-98342-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-98343-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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