Management of acute pancreatitis — MCQs

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 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 49-year-old man comes to the emergency department because of recurrent abdominal pain for 1 week. The pain is worse after eating and he has vomited twice during this period. He was hospitalized twice for acute pancreatitis during the past year; the latest being 2 months ago. There is no family history of serious illness. His only medication is a vitamin supplement. He has a history of drinking five beers a day for several years but quit 1 month ago. His temperature is 37.1°C (98.8°F), pulse is 98/min and blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg. He appears uncomfortable. Examination shows epigastric tenderness to palpation; there is no guarding or rebound. A CT scan of the abdomen shows a 6-cm low attenuation oval collection with a well-defined wall contiguous with the body of the pancreas. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

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 58-year-old woman comes to the emergency department because of a 2-day history of worsening upper abdominal pain. She reports nausea and vomiting, and is unable to tolerate oral intake. She appears uncomfortable. Her temperature is 38.1°C (100.6°F), pulse is 92/min, respirations are 18/min, and blood pressure is 132/85 mm Hg. Examination shows yellowish discoloration of her sclera. Her abdomen is tender in the right upper quadrant. There is no abdominal distention or organomegaly. Laboratory studies show: Hemoglobin 13 g/dL Leukocyte count 16,000/mm3 Serum Urea nitrogen 25 mg/dL Creatinine 2 mg/dL Alkaline phosphatase 432 U/L Alanine aminotransferase 196 U/L Aspartate transaminase 207 U/L Bilirubin Total 3.8 mg/dL Direct 2.7 mg/dL Lipase 82 U/L (N = 14–280) Ultrasound of the right upper quadrant shows dilated intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts and multiple hyperechoic spheres within the gallbladder. The pancreas is not well visualized. Intravenous fluid resuscitation and antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone and metronidazole is begun. Twelve hours later, the patient appears acutely ill and is not oriented to time. Her temperature is 39.1°C (102.4°F), pulse is 105/min, respirations are 22/min, and blood pressure is 112/82 mm Hg. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 42-year-old man comes to the emergency department because of tingling in his hands and legs and palpitations for 1 week. He has also had severe cramping in his hands, feet, and abdomen during this period. Three months ago, he was hospitalized for acute pancreatitis. He discharged himself against medical advice at that time. There is no family history of illness. He does not smoke. He drinks 2–3 beers and a pint of vodka daily. He has a history of using intravenous heroin. He has not had a stable job for a year. He is only oriented to place and person. His temperature is 37.1°C (98.8°F), pulse is 90/min, and blood pressure is 110/96 mm Hg. There is a carpopedal spasm while measuring his blood pressure. Cardiopulmonary examination shows no abnormalities. Deep tendon reflexes are 4+ bilaterally. Neurologic examination shows no focal findings. Which of the following is the most appropriate pharmacotherapy?

A 72-year-old man is brought to the emergency department from hospice. The patient has been complaining of worsening pain over the past few days and states that it is no longer bearable. The patient has a past medical history of pancreatic cancer which is being managed in hospice. The patient desires no "heroic measures" to be made with regards to treatment and resuscitation. His temperature is 98.8°F (37.1°C), blood pressure is 107/68 mmHg, pulse is 102/min, respirations are 22/min, and oxygen saturation is 99% on room air. Physical exam reveals an uncomfortable elderly man who experiences severe pain upon abdominal palpation. Laboratory values reveal signs of renal failure, liver failure, and anemia. Which of the following is the best next step in management?

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 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?