A 44-year-old man presents with sudden severe epigastric pain radiating to the back and vomiting after a large alcohol binge. Serum amylase is three t...

Question

A 44-year-old man presents with sudden severe epigastric pain radiating to the back and vomiting after a large alcohol binge. Serum amylase is three times the upper limit of normal and ultrasound shows no gallstones. He is afebrile and haemodynamically stable. What is the most appropriate immediate management strategy?

Accepted Answer

Aggressive intravenous crystalloid resuscitation and opiate analgesia

Answer

Urgent ERCP within 6 hours

Answer

Immediate laparotomy

Answer

Start broad-spectrum antibiotics for all cases

Answer

Discharge with oral analgesia and review in 48 hours

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Acute pancreatitis