Changes in the management of patients with severe acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Severe acute pancreatitis is present in up to 25% of patients with acute pancreatitis, with considerable mortality. Changes in the management of acute pancreatitis in the last 2 decades contributed to reduce the mortality. AIM: To show the evolution in the management of severe acute pancreatitis, comparing two different approaches. METHODS: All patients with severe acute pancreatitis from 1999 to 2005 were included. We compared the results of a retrospective review from 1999 to 2002 (group A) with a prospective protocol, from 2003 to 2005 (group B). In group A severe pancreatitis was defined by the presence of systemic or local complications. In group B the Atlanta criteria were used to define severity. The variables analyzed were: age, gender, etiology, APACHE II, leukocytes, bicarbonate, fluid collections and necrosis on computed tomography, surgical treatment and mortality. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were classified as severe, 24 in group A and 47 in group B. The mean APACHE II in groups A and B were 10.7 ± 3.5 and 9.3 ± 4.5, respectively. Necrosis was seen in 12 patients (50%) in group A and in 21 patients (44.7%) in group B. Half of the patients in group A and two (4.3%) in group B underwent to pancreatic interventions. Mortality reached 45.8% in group A and 8.5% in group B. CONCLUSION: A specific approach and a prospective protocol can change the results in the treatment of patients with severe acute pancreatitis