Pancreas
                                ========

þ Pancreatic Destruction
 - After destruction of more than 90% of normal pancreatic function, a patient
   may develop diabetes mellitus or steatorrhea. Ref: A Practical Approach to
   Emergency Medicine 2nd edition p 252.

þ Chronic Pancreatitis
 - Calcifications: Pancreatic calcifications are found in 30% of patients with
   chronic pancreatitis.  They are more commonly associated with pancreatitis
   due to alcohol ingestion than other etiolgies. Reg: A Practical Approach to
   Emergency Medicine 2nd edition p 252.

þ Pancreatic Abscess/Pseudocyst
 - Incidence:   Approximately 5% of patients with acute pancreatitis will
   develop a pancreatic abscess. Ref: A Practical Approach to Emergency
   Medicine 2nd edition p 250.

þ Pancreatitis without elevated amylase
 - [Calvien PA, et al. Acute pancreatitis and normoamylasemia: Not an uncommon
   combination. Ann Surg 1989;210(50):614.]
   [Orebaugh SL. Normal amylase levels in the prevention of acute
   pancreatitis. Am J Emerg Med 1994;12(1):21-4.]

þ Causes of Pancreatitis
 - ethanol (#1)
 - hypertriglyceridemia, sometimes from diabetes
 - Sulindac has been known to cause it, though it is unclear why this
   occurs. [Tintinalli 3rd ed. p 626.]
 - Depakene/depakote can cause severe pancreatitis, sometimes deadly (per
   package insert, modified 8/00)