# When the Tube Tells the Tale: A Visual Cue Reveals a Rare Cause of Acute Pancreatitis

## TL;DR

A milky serum appearance during blood draw helped diagnose a rare cause of acute pancreatitis, highlighting the importance of visual clues in emergency care.

## Contribution

Demonstrates how a simple visual observation can lead to the early detection of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis.

## Key findings

- A lipemic serum appearance prompted targeted testing, revealing severely elevated triglycerides.
- Visual cues during phlebotomy can be critical for diagnosing rare causes of acute pancreatitis.
- Early recognition of hypertriglyceridemia allows for specific therapies like insulin infusion.

## Abstract

Acute pancreatitis is a frequent cause of abdominal pain in the emergency department, but identifying less common triggers - such as hypertriglyceridemia - requires careful clinical observation. In this case, a visual clue during phlebotomy - a milky, lipemic appearance of the patient’s serum - prompted targeted testing that revealed severely elevated triglycerides. Since lipid panels are not routinely ordered in ED patients with abdominal pain, such subtle findings can be critical for early diagnosis. Prompt recognition is key, as the management of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis differs significantly from more common etiologies and often includes insulin infusion or other triglyceride-lowering therapies.