Essential Facts on the Go: Internal Medicine (12 page)

Presence of

Necrosis

Abscess

Pseudocyst

Diagnosis

Elevated amylase

Elevated lipase (more sensitive than amylase)

Imaging:

CT scan can show necrosis, collections, pseudocyst

Recommended if severe pancreatitis

May not show extent of necrosis until 48–72 hrs after symptoms begin

Treatment

Pain control

No evidence that morphine causes sphincter of Oddi spasm