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?
AOral gabapentin every 24 hours
BTransdermal fentanyl every 72 hours
COral acetaminophen every 6 hours
DPatient-controlled intravenous hydromorphone
ETransdermal bupivacaine on request
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?
ACholedocholithiasis
BCholelithiasis
CAcute cholecystitis
DAscending cholangitis
EGallstone pancreatitis
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?
ALiquefactive necrosis
BDry gangrene
CCaseous necrosis
DCoagulative necrosis
EFat necrosis
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