Description

Arnell et al identified risk factors associated with complications in patients with gallstone pancreatitis. These can help identify a patient on admission who should be monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU). The authors are from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance California.


 

Patient selection: gallstone pancreatitis (most were relatively young Hispanic women)

 

Outcomes requiring ICU care (one or more organ failures):

(1) respiratory failure with mechanical ventilation

(2) hypotension, cardiac ischemia, myocardial infarction or significant arrhythmia

(3) renal failure

(4) DIC or severe thrombocytopenia

(5) Glasgow coma score < 9

(6) GI bleeding requiring > 2 units pRBCs in 24 hours

(7) sepsis or pancreatic abscess

 

Admission parameters:

(1) white blood cell count

(2) glucose

(3) urea (the authors refer to this as BUN, but use units of mmol/L; see chapter on unit conversion)

(4) pulse

(5) APACHE II

Parameter

Finding

Points

WBC count

< 14,500 per µL

0

 

>= 14,500 per µL

1

glucose

< 150 mg/dL

0

 

>= 150 mg/dL

1

urea

< 12 mmol/L

0

 

>=12 mmol/L

1

pulse

< 100 beats per minute

0

 

>= 100 beats per minute

1

APACHE II

< 5

0

 

>= 5

1

 

number of risk factors =

= SUM(points for all 3 parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 5

• The more risk factors the greater the risk for complications.

• The presence of 3 or more risk factors is associated with a high risk for complications.

 

Performance:

• Individual risk factors show sensitivities from 71 to 86% and specificities from 78 to 87%.

• For >= 3 risk factors the sensitivity was 71% and specificity 97% (specific but somewhat insensitive).

 


To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.