RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Serum amylase or lipase to diagnose pancreatitis in patients presenting with abdominal pain
JF Emergency Medicine Journal
JO Emerg Med J
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine
SP 430
OP 431
DO 10.1136/emj.19.5.430
VO 19
IS 5
A1 John Butler
A1 Kevin Mackway-Jones
YR 2002
UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/19/5/430.abstract
AB A short cut review was carried out to establish whether serum amylase was better than serum lipase in the diagnosis of pancreatitis in patients presenting with abdominal pain. Altogether 320 papers were found using the reported search, of which seven presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date, and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results, and study weaknesses of these best papers are tabulated. A clinical bottom line is stated.