Ranson's Criteria
Estimates pancreatitis severity and mortality based on admission and 48-hour parameters
- Highest activation tier
- Recommended
- How it is scored
- Scored in code; a detected disagreeing draft value is flagged for correction
- Care settings
- ICU, Inpatient
When it activates
Scribeable activates a calculator from the encounter. The Ranson's Criteria can activate when the transcript or pasted chart context documents any of these:
- Acute pancreatitis severity assessment
- Pancreatitis prognosis
- Pancreatitis ICU decision
- Necrotizing pancreatitis risk
A coded diagnosis can also activate it. ICD-10 prefixes carried by the registry: K85.
Note-type scope: it activates on notes whose subject resolves to gi, hospital medicine, critical care. A note that resolves to another subject does not carry it even when the clinician's specialty matches; a note with no resolvable subject (a generic consultation) falls back to the specialty match.
Inputs the note needs
11 inputs. Each is resolved from the transcript, the pasted chart context and charted labs; at this calculator’s tier a missing input is never requested, and a missing required input keeps the score out of the draft.
| Input | Type | Unit / options | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age >55 years | age | ||
| WBC >16,000/mm3 | lab | ||
| Blood glucose >200 mg/dL | lab | ||
| AST >250 IU/L | lab | ||
| LDH >350 IU/L | lab | ||
| Hematocrit drop >10% at 48hoptional | lab | ||
| BUN rise >5 mg/dL at 48hoptional | lab | ||
| Serum calcium <8 mg/dL at 48hoptional | lab | ||
| PaO2 <60 mmHg at 48hoptional | lab | ||
| Base deficit >4 mEq/L at 48hoptional | lab | ||
| Estimated fluid sequestration >6L at 48hoptional | lab |
Scoring
At admission (5 criteria): Age >55, WBC >16k, Glucose >200, AST >250, LDH >350. At 48h (6 criteria): Hct drop >10%, BUN rise >5, Ca <8, PaO2 <60, Base deficit >4, Fluid sequestration >6L. Total 0-11.
Interpretation
0-2: Low mortality (<1%), mild pancreatitis. 3-4: ~15% mortality. 5-6: ~40% mortality. ≥7: Virtually 100% mortality. ≥3 criteria suggest severe pancreatitis requiring ICU.
Evidence
Sources carried in Scribeable's citation registry for this calculator; guideline version: Ranson JHC et al. 1974.
- Ranson JH et al. Prognostic signs and the role of operative management in acute pancreatitisRanson et al. (Ranson Criteria) 1974 · 1974 · link last verified 2026-03-28
How Scribeable handles it in the note
When an encounter activates the Ranson's Criteria (its highest tier is recommended), Scribeable does not ask you for missing inputs. The score is computed in code from whatever inputs resolve from the transcript, the pasted chart context or charted labs; a computed value is written into the draft only when every required input already resolves.
The score is computed in code from the resolved inputs, not recalled by the language model. If the draft states a Ranson's Criteria value that disagrees with the computed one, the disagreement is flagged to the second drafting pass, which is instructed to correct the score and its interpretation before you see the note.
Classified as a risk score: activated strictly, by a documented trigger, never by a permissive reading of the encounter.
See it activate on your own encounter
14 days of full Pro. No sales call.
14-day Pro trial with a card on file. $79/month starts 14 days after your trial begins unless you cancel first. Cancel any time from Settings > Billing.