Severe Pancreatitis

emDocs

Severe Pancreatitis in the ED: Presentation, Evaluation, and Management

emDocs - October 04, 2021 - By Alex Stern 

Reviewed by Michael J. Yoo; Alex Koyfman and Brit Long

“Pearls

• As with any patient with abdominal pain, always keep a broad differential and include those life-threateningconditions: AAA, bowel ischemia, ectopic, perforated viscus, etc.
• Ultrasound and CT of the abdomen and pelvis can aid in the etiology of pancreatitis or undifferentiatedabdominal pain.
• If concerned for concomitant infection or necrotizing pancreatitis, initiate broad-spectrum antibiotics.
• IVF like in sepsis; avoid overly aggressive fluid resuscitation and start pressors earlier to reduce the risk of iatrogenic volume overload.
• Aggressive, multimodal pain control.”