A 55-year-old male is admitted as an emergency with
severe abdominal pain. He smokes 30 cigarettes a day and takes approximately
30 units of alcohol per week but admits to exceeding this amount sometimes. He
also complains of sudden deterioration in vision. Ophthalmoscopy shows
multiple micro infarcts (cotton wool spots). What investigation would best
confirm your diagnosis and guide treatment?
a) Upper
GI endoscopy
b) E.R.C.P.
c) Blood
glucose
d) Mesenteric
angiogram
e) CT
scan abdomen
Answer:
e)
Ischaemic retinopathy, which causes retinal oedema and
micro infarcts, causes acute visual loss. This is a complication of acute
pancreatitis. CT scanning will be useful in diagnosis and evaluation of
pancreatitis.
