Acute vs Chronic Pancreatitis - hopetomatchsoon

[ArchivalUser]

Can someone explain how to differentiate between acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis based on clinical features and without any labs or imaging? I just had a question where I thought the diagnosis was acute pancreatitis but it turned out to be chronic instead.

[ArchivalUser]

Chronic pancreatitis- Symptoms for long duration, history of recurrent acute pancreatitis in past, less severe symptoms- for instance no hypotension, hemodynamically stable pt., etc etc.

[ArchivalUser]

abdominal pain more acute in onset and severe in acute pancreatitis and could have hemodynamic instability depending on severity

In chronic pancreatitis, you have less severe symptoms with longer duration and pancreatic insufficiency such as diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain

[ArchivalUser]

Thanks. Is there a particular length of duration that must be met for it to be considered chronic eg, 4 weeks, 6 months, etc.?

[ArchivalUser]

>4 weeks or pancreatic insufficiency

acute pancreatitis is an emergency so they won't be brought to ER after weeks in the vignette

[ArchivalUser]

Alright thanks!