Final answer:
Deterioration in a patient with acute pancreatitis after 72 hours suggests complications and warrants tests like pancreas function tests, blood tests for pancreatic enzymes, and a CT scan to assess for possible complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient is experiencing signs of deterioration more than 72 hours after the onset of acute pancreatitis, this could indicate the presence of complications and requires immediate medical attention. Common tests used to evaluate pancreatitis include pancreas function tests such as the Pancreolauryl test (PLT), which measures serum concentrations to detect pancreatic insufficiency, and the Secretin-pancreozymin test, which analyses duodenal contents after the administration of secretin and pancreozymin. Furthermore, blood tests are essential for assessing the levels of pancreatic enzymes amylase and lipase, and may also indicate related conditions like infection or anemia. In acute pancreatitis with deterioration, imaging tests such as a CT scan with contrast dye can be particularly useful to check for complications like abscesses or pseudocysts.
Conclusion: The diagnosis of worsening acute pancreatitis should be supported by a combination of symptoms, physical examination, and the use of specific pancreas function tests, blood tests, and imaging studies.