Acute pancreatitis

Symptoms:

• abdominal pain that is greatest in the upper abdomen (upper right quadrant or upper middle of the abdomen)
  • persistent or chronic
  • recurrent or with similar pain in past
  • may be worse lying flat on the back (supine)
  • may radiate to the back or below the right shoulder blade (right scapular area)
  • pain radiating through to the middle of the back
  • may be worse by eating or drinking (occurs within minutes following meals), especially greasy foods or foods with a high fat content
  • pain may be worse after drinking alcohol

• nausea
• vomiting
• weakness
• sweating
• anxiety
• fever
• skin, clammy
• mild jaundice

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• abdomen, swollen
• abdominal fullness, gaseous
• abdominal indigestion
• bruising or bleeding into the skin
• chest pain under the breastbone
• flank pain
• gas/flatus, excessive
• hiccups
• skin rash or lesion
• stools, clay colored

Signs and tests:

General examination may show a low blood pressure and a heart rate above 90 (this is slightly rapid).

Tests that show release of pancreatic enzymes:

• elevated serum amylase
• elevated urine amylase
• elevated serum lipase

Test that show inflammation of the pancreas:

• abdominal CT scan
• abdominal ultrasound

In other blood tests results:

• A CBC shows an elevated WBC count.
• A glucose test may be elevated.
• Serum calcium may be decreased.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• trypsinogen
• serum magnesium - test
• LDH isoenzymes
• LDH
• fecal fat
• CEA
• calcium (ionized)
• AST