Acute pancreatitis etiology — MCQs

A 43-year-old man is brought to the emergency department because of severe epigastric pain and vomiting for 6 hours. The pain radiates to his back and he describes it as 9 out of 10 in intensity. He has had 3–4 episodes of vomiting during this period. He admits to consuming over 13 alcoholic beverages the previous night. There is no personal or family history of serious illness and he takes no medications. He is 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) tall and weighs 55 kg (121 lb); BMI is 17.6 kg/m2. He appears uncomfortable. His temperature is 37.5°C (99.5°F), pulse is 97/min, and blood pressure is 128/78 mm Hg. Abdominal examination shows severe epigastric tenderness to palpation. Bowel sounds are hypoactive. The remainder of the physical examination shows no abnormalities. Laboratory studies show: Hemoglobin 13.5 g/dL Hematocrit 62% Leukocyte count 13,800/mm3 Serum Na+ 134 mEq/L K+ 3.6 mEq/L Cl- 98 mEq/L Calcium 8.3 mg/dL Glucose 180 mg/dL Creatinine 0.9 mg/dL Amylase 150 U/L Lipase 347 U/L (N = 14–280) Total bilirubin 0.8 mg/dL Alkaline phosphatase 66 U/L AST 19 U/L ALT 18 U/L LDH 360 U/L Which of the following laboratory studies is the best prognostic indicator for this patient's condition?

A 52-year-old woman presents to the urgent care center with several hours of worsening abdominal discomfort with radiation to the back. The patient also complains of malaise, chills, nausea, and vomiting. Social history is notable for alcoholism. On physical exam, she is febrile to 39.5°C (103.1°F), and she is diffusely tender to abdominal palpation. Complete blood count is notable for 13,500 white blood cells, bilirubin 2.1, lipase 842, and amylase 3,210. Given the following options, what is the most likely diagnosis?

A 52-year-old woman presents to the urgent care center with several hours of worsening abdominal discomfort that radiates to the back. The patient also complains of malaise, chills, nausea, and vomiting. Social history is notable for alcoholism. On physical exam, she is febrile to 39.5°C (103.1℉), and she is diffusely tender on abdominal palpation. Other vital signs include a blood pressure of 126/74 mm Hg, heart rate of 74/min, and respiratory rate of 14/min. Complete blood count is notable for 13,500 white blood cells (WBCs), and her complete metabolic panel shows bilirubin of 2.1 and amylase of 3210. Given the following options, what is the most likely diagnosis?

A 29-year-old woman presents with a 2-hour history of sudden onset of severe mid-epigastric pain. The pain radiates to the back, and is not relieved by over-the-counter antacids. The patient also complains of profuse vomiting. The patient’s medical history is negative for similar symptoms. She consumes 3–4 alcoholic drinks daily. The blood pressure is 80/40 mm Hg and the heart rate is 105/min. Examination of the lungs reveals bibasilar crackles. Abdominal examination reveals diffuse tenderness involving the entire abdomen, marked guarding, rigidity, and reduced bowel sounds. The chest X-ray is normal. However, the abdominal CT scan reveals peritoneal fluid collection and diffuse pancreatic enlargement. The laboratory findings include: Aspartate aminotransferase 63 IU/L Alkaline phosphatase 204 IU/L Alanine aminotransferase 32 IU/L Serum amylase 500 IU/L (Normal: 25-125 IU/L) Serum lipase 1,140 IU/L (Normal: 0-160 IU/L) Serum calcium 2 mmol/L Which of the following cellular changes are most likely, based on the clinical and laboratory findings?

A 61-year-old woman presents to the urgent care unit with a 2-week history of abdominal pain after meals. The patient reports vomiting over the past few days. The past medical history is significant for osteoarthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. She regularly drinks alcohol. She does not smoke cigarettes. The patient currently presents with vital signs within normal limits. On physical examination, the patient appears to be in moderate distress, but she is alert and oriented. The palpation of the abdomen elicits tenderness in the epigastric region. The CT of the abdomen shows no signs of an acute process. The laboratory results are listed below. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis? Na+ 139 mEq/L K+ 4.4 mEq/L Cl- 109 mmol/L HCO3- 20 mmol/L BUN 14 mg/dL Cr 1.0 mg/dL Glucose 101 mg/dL Total cholesterol 187 mg/dL LDL 110 mg/dL HDL 52 mg/dL TG 120 mg/dL AST 65 IU/L ALT 47 IU/L GGT 27 IU/L Amylase 512 U/L Lipase 1,262 U/L

A 21-year-old college student comes to the emergency department because of a two-day history of vomiting and epigastric pain that radiates to the back. He has a history of atopic dermatitis and Hashimoto thyroiditis. His only medication is levothyroxine. He has not received any routine vaccinations. He drinks 1–2 beers on the weekends and occasionally smokes marijuana. The patient appears distressed and is diaphoretic. His temperature is 37.9°C (100.3°F), pulse is 105/min, respirations are 16/min, and blood pressure is 130/78 mm Hg. Physical examination shows abdominal distention with tenderness to palpation in the epigastrium. There is no guarding or rebound tenderness. Skin examination shows several clusters of yellow plaques over the trunk and extensor surfaces of the extremities. Hemoglobin concentration is 15.2 g/dL and serum calcium concentration is 7.9 mg/dL. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in evaluation?

A 46-year-old man is brought to the emergency department because of severe epigastric pain and vomiting for the past 4 hours. The pain is constant, radiates to his back, and is worse on lying down. He has had 3–4 episodes of greenish-colored vomit. He was treated for H. pylori infection around 2 months ago with triple-regimen therapy. He has atrial fibrillation and hypertension. He owns a distillery on the outskirts of a town. The patient drinks 4–5 alcoholic beverages daily. Current medications include dabigatran and metoprolol. He appears uncomfortable. His temperature is 37.8°C (100°F), pulse is 102/min, and blood pressure is 138/86 mm Hg. Examination shows severe epigastric tenderness to palpation with guarding but no rebound. Bowel sounds are hypoactive. Rectal examination shows no abnormalities. Laboratory studies show: Hematocrit 53% Leukocyte count 11,300/mm3 Serum Na+ 133 mEq/L Cl- 98 mEq/L K+ 3.1 mEq/L Calcium 7.8 mg/dL Urea nitrogen 43 mg/dL Glucose 271 mg/dL Creatinine 2.0 mg/dL Total bilirubin 0.7 mg/dL Alkaline phosphatase 61 U/L AST 19 U/L ALT 17 U/L γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) 88 u/L (N=5–50 U/L) Lipase 900 U/L (N=14–280 U/L) Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 45-year-old man with a history of biliary colic presents with one-day of intractable nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain radiating to the back. Temperature is 99.7 deg F (37.6 deg C), blood pressure is 102/78 mmHg, pulse is 112/min, and respirations are 22/min. On abdominal exam, he has involuntary guarding and tenderness to palpation in the right upper quadrant and epigastric regions. Laboratory studies show white blood cell count 18,200/uL, alkaline phosphatase 650 U/L, total bilirubin 2.5 mg/dL, amylase 500 U/L, and lipase 1160 U/L. Which of the patient's laboratory findings is associated with increased mortality?

A 72-year-old woman comes to the emergency department because of upper abdominal pain and nausea for the past hour. The patient rates the pain as an 8 to 9 on a 10-point scale. She has had an episode of nonbloody vomiting since the pain started. She has a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and osteoporosis. The patient has smoked 2 packs of cigarettes daily for 40 years. She drinks 5–6 alcoholic beverages daily. Current medications include glyburide, lisinopril, and oral vitamin D supplements. Her temperature is 38.5°C (101.3°F), pulse is 110/min, and blood pressure is 138/86 mm Hg. Examination shows severe epigastric tenderness to palpation with guarding but no rebound. Ultrasonography of the abdomen shows diffuse enlargement of the pancreas; no gallstones are visualized. The patient is admitted to the hospital for pain control and intravenous hydration. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient’s pain?

A 54-year-old man presents to the emergency department for fatigue and weight loss. He reports feeling increasingly tired over the last several weeks and has lost seven pounds over the last month. His wife has also noticed a yellowing of the eyes. He endorses mild nausea but denies vomiting, abdominal pain, or changes in his stools. Ten years ago, he was hospitalized for an episode of acute pancreatitis. His past medical history is otherwise significant for hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. He has two glasses of wine most nights with dinner and has a 30-pack-year smoking history. On physical exam, the patient has icteric sclera and his abdomen is soft, non-distended, and without tenderness to palpation. Bowel sounds are present. Laboratory studies reveal the following: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): 67 U/L Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): 54 U/L Alkaline phosphatase: 771 U/L Total bilirubin: 12.1 mg/dL Direct bilirubin: 9.4 mg/dL Which of the following would most likely be seen on abdominal imaging?