In this study, we used the 2012 revised Atlanta classification and found that the EPIC score, assessed by the presence of ascites, pleural effusion, and retroperitoneal edema, can be used to predict the occurrence of organ failure in the early phase of AP with an accuracy similar to those of the SIRS and BISAP scores and higher than that of the Balthazar score. We found that the EPIC score correlated moderately with the severity of organ failure. However, our results showed no significant difference in EPIC score between patients with transient organ failure and with persistent organ failure. This finding indicates that the EPIC score cannot be used to differentiate the severity of organ failure. Our results further revealed that the EPIC score correlated moderately with the number of failed organs, but we found no significant difference in EPIC score between patients with 1 failed organ and with 2 failed organs. This finding indicates that the EPIC score cannot be used to differentiate the number of failed organs.