Ranson Criteria

Ranson Criteria: Gold standard for predicting severity and mortality in acute pancreatitis. Requires 48h longitudinal assessment.

On Admission

At 48 Hours

Guidelines & Evidence

Verified

Last Review: 2026-07-17

When to Use

Traditional severity stratification of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP)

To predict morbidity and mortality during the first 48 hours of admission

Historical gold-standard scoring historically used in surgical training and landmark trials

The 48-Hour Constraint

Ranson criteria require 48 hours for complete calculation. They cannot be used for "real-time" triage in the Emergency Department. For immediate triage, use BISAP or HAPS.

How it Works

At Admission (5 items)

Age > 55 years.

WBC > 16,000 /mm³.

Glucose > 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L).

AST > 250 U/L.

LDH > 350 U/L.

At 48 Hours (6 items)

Haematocrit Fall > 10%.

BUN Rise > 5 mg/dL.

Calcium < 8 mg/dL.

PO2 < 60 mmHg.

Base Deficit > 4 mEq/L.

Fluid Sequestration > 6 L.

Mortality Prediction

0–2 Points	< 1% Mortality
3–4 Points	15% Mortality (Severe)
5–6 Points	40% Mortality
> 6 Points	> 70% Mortality

Last Comprehensive Review: 2026-07-17

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We think this might be relevant to the clinical guidance for Ranson Criteria (Acute Pancreatitis).

Ranson Criteria

When to Use

When to Use

The 48-Hour Constraint

How it Works

At Admission (5 items)

At 48 Hours (6 items)

Mortality Prediction

Clinical Pearls

Ranson vs. APACHE II

The 6L Fluid Rule

Clinical Pearls

Next Steps

Triage Recommendation

Complementary Scoring

The Evidence

The Foundational Paper

Prognostic signs and the role of operative management in acute pancreatitis.

Origins & History

John H.C. Ranson

Related Tools

Recent Journal Updates

Ranson Criteria

When to Use

When to Use

The 48-Hour Constraint

How it Works

At Admission (5 items)

At 48 Hours (6 items)

Mortality Prediction

Clinical Pearls

Ranson vs. APACHE II

The 6L Fluid Rule

Clinical Pearls

Next Steps

Triage Recommendation

Complementary Scoring

The Evidence

The Foundational Paper

Prognostic signs and the role of operative management in acute pancreatitis.

Origins & History

John H.C. Ranson

Related Tools

Recent Journal Updates