Pancreatitis Mnemonics : Causes, Severity

Pancreatitis : Mnemonics

Causes for pancreatitis : Mnemonics

Idiopathic
Gallstones (38%)
Ethanol (35%)
Tumours  (peri-ampullary tumour, pancreatic carcinoma)      
Scorpion venoms
Mumps
Autoimmune (SLE, Polyarteritis nodosa)
Surgery and trauma

• Post surgical (cardiac surgery), Blunt trauma to abdomen, Penetrating peptic ulcer

Hyperlipidemia, Hypercalcemia. Hypothermia
ERCP or Emboli
Drugs

• Azathioprine, Corticosteroids, Didanosine, Mercaptopurine, asparaginase, Estrogen, Methyldopa, Valproic acid, Acetaminophen.

Modified Glasgow criteria

Three or more positives within 48 hours indicates severe pancreatitis.

• PaO2                                 < 8kPa (60mmhg)
• Age                                   > 55 years
• Neutrophils                      (WBC >15 x109/l
• Calcium                            < 2mmol/l
• Renal                                (Urea > 16mmol/l)
• Enzymes                          (LDH > 600 iu/L or AST > 200 iu/L
• Albumin(serum)              < 32g/l
• Sugar                               (Blood Glucose >10mmol/L) 

 In the most severe form of pancreatitis the mortality rate is around 40% to 50%.