CRITICAL CARE EXAM 4 EXAM LATEST 2026-2027
ACTUAL EXAM 100 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
What is acute pancreatitis? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-inflammation of
the pancreas caused by digestive enzymes being activated but
not being released. dysfunction of the ACINAR cells. this leads
to an inflammatory response that causes Increased
permeability: causing hemorrhage, edema, and necrosis
What are the three functions of the pancreas? - ✔✔ANSWER
✔✔-ENDOCRINE (secrete insulin + glucagon to stabilize glucose
balance), EXOCRINE (produce digestive enzymes which helps
break down food), and DIGESTIVE (protease, lipase, amylase)
acute pancreatitis s/s - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-sudden onset of LUQ
Abdominal and back pain, distention, guarding, N/V, fever,
Anorexia, Ascites, Jaundice
,Cullen's sign - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-ecchymosis in smbilical area,
seen with pancreatitis
turner's s - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-flank grayish blue (turn around to
see your flanks) pancreatitis
What labs can be drawn to help diagnose acute pancreatitis? -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-lipase, amylase, calcium ALT/AST, WBC,
glucose, potassium, cholesterol + triglycerides
lipase in acute pancreatic - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Breaks down fat.
rises within 12 hours of onset normal is 0-160. more specific to
the pancreas.
amylase in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-#1 indicator:
breaks down carbs. rises within 4-8 hours of onset normal is 30-
110
LOOK FOR ELEVATION 3 TIMES THE NORMAL LIMIT
calcium in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-low with fat
necrosis
,ALT/AST in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-elevated with
gallstones
alkaline phosphate in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
elevated with biliary disease
WBC in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-increased due to
inflammation and infection
glucose in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-elevated with
islet cell damage
potassium in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-low with
severe vomiting, high with acute renal failure
What scans can be done to diagnose acute pancreatitis? -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-CT scan + x-ray + ultrasound
why do we use a CT scan in acute pancreatitis? - ✔✔ANSWER
✔✔-can assess for severe cases of pancreatitis
-pseudocyst
, -ascites
why do we use an X-ray(KUB) in acute pancreatitis? -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-can visualize calcifications. can indicate
chronic pancreatitis.
why do we use a ultrasound in acute pancreatitis? -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-can detect gallstones
ranson criteria - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Used to assess severity +
mortality of pancreatitis
0-2=minimal mortality
3-5= 10-20% mortality
6+= 50% mortality
ERCP - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Diagnoses pancreatitis: Endoscopy,
looks at bile and pancreatic duct to see if it is emptying. If it is
not, the catheter goes into the duct to determine blockage and
place a stent if needed
ACTUAL EXAM 100 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
What is acute pancreatitis? - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-inflammation of
the pancreas caused by digestive enzymes being activated but
not being released. dysfunction of the ACINAR cells. this leads
to an inflammatory response that causes Increased
permeability: causing hemorrhage, edema, and necrosis
What are the three functions of the pancreas? - ✔✔ANSWER
✔✔-ENDOCRINE (secrete insulin + glucagon to stabilize glucose
balance), EXOCRINE (produce digestive enzymes which helps
break down food), and DIGESTIVE (protease, lipase, amylase)
acute pancreatitis s/s - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-sudden onset of LUQ
Abdominal and back pain, distention, guarding, N/V, fever,
Anorexia, Ascites, Jaundice
,Cullen's sign - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-ecchymosis in smbilical area,
seen with pancreatitis
turner's s - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-flank grayish blue (turn around to
see your flanks) pancreatitis
What labs can be drawn to help diagnose acute pancreatitis? -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-lipase, amylase, calcium ALT/AST, WBC,
glucose, potassium, cholesterol + triglycerides
lipase in acute pancreatic - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Breaks down fat.
rises within 12 hours of onset normal is 0-160. more specific to
the pancreas.
amylase in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-#1 indicator:
breaks down carbs. rises within 4-8 hours of onset normal is 30-
110
LOOK FOR ELEVATION 3 TIMES THE NORMAL LIMIT
calcium in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-low with fat
necrosis
,ALT/AST in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-elevated with
gallstones
alkaline phosphate in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
elevated with biliary disease
WBC in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-increased due to
inflammation and infection
glucose in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-elevated with
islet cell damage
potassium in acute pancreatitis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-low with
severe vomiting, high with acute renal failure
What scans can be done to diagnose acute pancreatitis? -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-CT scan + x-ray + ultrasound
why do we use a CT scan in acute pancreatitis? - ✔✔ANSWER
✔✔-can assess for severe cases of pancreatitis
-pseudocyst
, -ascites
why do we use an X-ray(KUB) in acute pancreatitis? -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-can visualize calcifications. can indicate
chronic pancreatitis.
why do we use a ultrasound in acute pancreatitis? -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-can detect gallstones
ranson criteria - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Used to assess severity +
mortality of pancreatitis
0-2=minimal mortality
3-5= 10-20% mortality
6+= 50% mortality
ERCP - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Diagnoses pancreatitis: Endoscopy,
looks at bile and pancreatic duct to see if it is emptying. If it is
not, the catheter goes into the duct to determine blockage and
place a stent if needed
