Survey of antibiotic prophylaxis in acute pancreatitis in the UK and Ireland

BACKGROUND: Current surgical practice with regards to antibiotic prophylaxis in acute pancreatitis in the UK and Ireland was overviewed. METHODS: The 1103 members of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland were surveyed by postal questionnaire. A total of 528 replies were received (48 per cent). Following exclusion of surgeons not treating patients with acute pancreatitis, analysis was carried out on 429 replies. RESULTS: Respondents treated a median of 12 (interquartile range (i.q.r.) 10-20) patients per year with acute pancreatitis. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy was used by 88 per cent of responding surgeons, of whom 24 per cent used it in all cases. For surgeons professing selective use of antibiotics, the most common indication for use was in patients with prognostically severe disease. A cephalosporin was prescribed in 72 per cent of patients; cefuroxime was the single most common antibiotic. Combination therapy with metronidazole was used in 48 per cent of attacks. The median duration of antibiotic therapy was 5 (i.q.r. 5-7) days. An adverse drug reaction attributable to the use of prophylactic antibiotics was reported by 11 per cent of respondents. CONCLUSION: This study has established that a significant body of clinicians charged with the responsibility of treating acute pancreatitis use antibiotic prophylaxis in the initial treatment of patients with predicted severe disease.     

Experimental models of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis remains a disease of uncertain pathogenesis and nonspecific therapy. Because of the practical problems plaguing investigation of pancreatitis in man, investigators have developed various experimental animal models of pancreatitis in order to develop rationale concepts regarding pathogenesis and therapy. Despite numerous investigations over the past century, the events involved in the initiation and progression of pancreatitis remain obscure. Indeed, identification of the cellular mechanisms responsible for the initiation of this disease may allow for significant advances in therapy. Previous studies have largely focused on the mechanism of pancreatitis at the organ level. It is now apparent that the early initiating events in acute pancreatitis probably occur at a membrane or intracellular level. The resolution of the cellular events which underlie the development of pancreatitis in combination with the introduction of new therapeutic agents may enable a rational and safe protocol to be developed for the support of patients with pancreatitis. In this review different experimental models of acute pancreatitis are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the relevance of various models to clinical pancreatitis.     

Efficacy of somatostatin and its analogues in the treatment of acute pancreatitis: clinical retrospective study

Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the pancreas, with variable involvement of other regional tissues or remote organ systems. Acute pancreatitis is mild in 80% of cases; virtually all patients with this form of disease will survive, because it's associated with minimal organ dysfunction and uneventful recovery; the severe pancreatitis develops in 20% of cases and is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. It's most important to identify the severity of disease at the moment of hospital admission; many scoring systems have been developed to serve as early prognostic signs: Ranson's criteria, Imrie's criteria, Apache II score, Balthazar's TC score. Recently, new drugs have been proposed in the treatment of acute pancreatitis, as, for example, calcitonine, glucagon, systemic antioxidants, antagonists of the receptors of interleukines, antiproteases (aprotinin and gabexate-mesilate) and the inhibitors of pancreatic secretions (somatostatin and its analogues). However, many controversies still exist concerning the real efficacy of these drugs in the treatment of acute pancreatitis, particularly regarding the inhibitors of pancreatic secretions: recently, some studies showed that somatostatin is able to actually reduce the local complication of the disease and the development of severe forms of acute pancreatitis; on the other hand, other studies failed to show real advantages of somatostatin reducing morbidity and mortality for pancreatitis. The aim of present study is a retrospective analysis of patients affected by acute pancreatitis in order to evaluate efficacy of somatostatin and its analogues. All patients subdivided in two groups: group A, patients treated with conventional therapy plus somatostatin and/or octreotide (SS/LS), and group B, patients treated only with conventional therapy. Results seem to show that somatostatin does not positively affect morbidity and mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis. The Authors conclude that, at present; somatostatin cannot be considered surely effective in preventing complications and mortality in acute pancreatitis. Further studies are still necessary to verify the effectiveness of somatostatin and its analogues in the therapy of acute pancreatitis.     

A survey of the timing and approach to the surgical management of cholelithiasis in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis in the UK

BACKGROUND: Recent management guidelines and randomised clinical trials have provided evidence-based guidance to the management of acute biliary pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to the 1086 members of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. There were 583 responders (54%). RESULTS: A policy of cholecystectomy during the index admission or within 4 weeks in fit patients recovering from mild acute biliary pancreatitis was adopted by 58% of surgeons, and was significantly associated with an upper gastrointestinal and hepato-pancreato-biliary subspecialty interest and a volume of more than 50 cholecystectomies per annum (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.26-0.72; P = 0.001: and OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.29-0.74; P = 0.001, respectively). A policy of urgent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis was adopted by 20% of surgeons, and was significantly associated with an upper gastrointestinal/hepato-pancreato-biliary subspecialty interest and the 'routine' adoption of laparoscopic approach to cholecystectomy (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.19-0.60; P < 0.001: and OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.3-0.86; P = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The management of cholelithiasis in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis in the UK remains suboptimal. Moreover, only a minority of surgeons offer patients presenting with acute cholecystitis the benefits of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The management of acute biliary disease may be improved if these cases were concentrated in the hands of surgeons with upper gastrointestinal/hepato-pancreato-biliary interest and those who perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy regularly.     

Potential effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: To extract from the biomedical published reports, the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on inflammatory disease, in particular acute pancreatitis. METHODS: This review will explain these effects and evaluate potential mechanisms of action of HBO in acute pancreatitis. A Medline/PubMed search (January 1966 to July 2004) with manual cross-referencing was conducted, including all relevant articles investigating the molecular and systemic effects of HBO on inflammatory diseases, particularly focusing on the studies of acute pancreatitis. All publication types, languages and subsets were searched. RESULTS: Original and review articles and short communications were extracted. The selected original articles covered the molecular and systemic effects of HBO and the effects in inflammatory disease states. The major findings are that HBO can act as an anti-inflammatory agent and as an antimicrobial agent. Many of the effects of HBO would be beneficial in the treatment of acute severe pancreatitis. Work carried out to date in animal models of acute pancreatitis shows promising improvements in severity but studies are limited to date. CONCLUSION: Acute pancreatitis impairs the pancreatic and systemic microcirculation and causes acute inflammation. These processes are potentially improved by HBO therapy.     

Chronic pancreatitis with synchronous and metachronous malignancy: three unusual cases and a literature review

HYPOTHESIS: Chronic pancreatitis is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. The association between these 2 disease processes is not well known. We present 3 unusual cases of pancreatitis associated with pancreatic cancer and review the possible mechanisms that can cause pancreatitis to degenerate into pancreatic cancer. DESIGN: A case series reviewing 3 unusual cases of chronic pancreatitis associated with pancreatic cancer. The patients' charts are reviewed, and a literature search is performed looking for chronic pancreatitis associated with pancreatic cancer. SETTING: The cases were performed at a small community hospital in New York City, New York. PARTICIPANTS: The surgeons involved are experienced pancreatic surgeons with a large referral group. The endoscopies were performed by gastroenterologists with years of experience in biliary and pancreatic disease. RESULTS: The cases and the literature review support the hypothesis that there is an association between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Three unusual case of chronic pancreatitis, 2 with synchronous and 1 with metachronous malignancies, are presented. The pathway of benign to malignant change is reviewed, and the constant awareness that pancreatitis is associated with malignancy must be kept in mind.     

Akute Pankreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is potentially fatal. It can be diagnosed based on present history, clinical appearance, and typical findings from laboratory and radiologic investigations. All patients must be admitted to hospital, as the disease course cannot be predicted at initial presentation. Increasing severity demands increasingly individualized therapy. The most important interventions are fast fluid resuscitation and analgesic therapy with opioids. Therapeutic agents specific to pancreatitis have failed to show any advantages so far. The roles of antibiotic therapy and nutritional support in the therapeutic regimen have been profoundly reassessed during recent years. Surgery and endoscopic interventions may be necessary and beneficial in carefully selected patients. In this review we summarize clinically relevant issues of acute pancreatitis.     

HYPERPARATHYROIDISM PRESENTING AS PANCREATITIS OR COMPLICATED BY POSTOPERATIVE PANCREATITIS

Background: The association of hyperparathyroidism with acute pancreatitis either pre-operatively or postoperatively has been questioned in recent overseas literature. Methods: A review of medical records and histology reports in the Royal Hobart Hospital from 1971 to 1993 was carried out to identify all cases of acute pancreatitis associated with primary hyperparathyroidism. Results: Seven cases are presented, six with histological confirmation, of hyperparathyroidism associated with pancreatitis in a period when 137 confirmed cases of primary hyperparathyroidism were treated. None of these patients had gallstones. In two, alcohol abuse may have been the aetiological factor. Five patients had successful neck exploration and none of them have experienced any further attacks including a 25 year old who had four hospitalizations and one laparotomy for pancreatitis in the year before parathyroidectomy 12 years ago. Two patients died from acute pancreatitis, one without exploration and the other with a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma that was not located at surgery. Conclusions: Most parathyroid surgeons would proceed to mediastinotomy, if necessary, at initial exploration in a patient with previous hypercalcaemic crisis. This should also be considered in patients with a history of acute pancreatitis.     

Evolution of nutritional support in acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis is a catabolic illness and patients with the severe form have high metabolic and nutrient demands. Artificial nutritional support should therefore be a logical component of treatment. This review examines the evidence in favour of initiating nutritional support in these patients and the effects of such support on the course of the disease. METHODS: Medline and Science Citation Index searches were performed to locate English language publications on nutritional support in acute pancreatitis in the 25 years preceding December 1999. Manual cross-referencing was also carried out. Letters, editorials, older review articles and most case reports were excluded. Results and conclusion: There is no evidence that nutritional support in acute pancreatitis affects the underlying disease process, but it may prevent the associated undernutrition and starvation, supporting the patient while the disease continues and until normal and sufficient eating can be resumed. The safety and feasibility of enteral nutrition in acute pancreatitis have been established; enteral nutrition may even be superior to parenteral nutrition. Some patients, however, cannot tolerate enteral feeding and this route may not be practical in others. Parenteral nutrition still has a role, either on its own or in combination with the oral and enteral routes, depending on the stage of the illness and the clinical situation.     

Comparative characteristics of octreotide and famotidine in the treatment of acute pancreatitis

Antisecretory therapy is an important and integral component of complex therapy of acute pancreatitis. The clinical estimation of efficiency of various antisecterory preparations, sandostatin and famotidin (quamatel) was made in treatment of acute pancreatitis at an early stage of the disease. The results of the research have shown that the efficiency of sandostatin and famotidin (quamatel) in treatment of not severe (mild and medium) forms of acute pancreatitis is approximately identical. But the application of famotidin (quamatel) is economically more favorable (8.3 times cheaper than sandostatin). In treatment of severe acute pancreatitis of paramount importance are the terms of the beginning of antisecretory therapy, the optimum term being the first day of the disease. The preparation of choice is sandostatin, the preparation of reserve--famotidin (quamotel). The duration of a medical course of treatment is the first three days from the beginning of the disease. The application of antisecretory preparations in question is less effective when used in later terms.     

Acute pancreatitis of unknown etiology in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of acute pancreatitis in the elderly patient is increasing, and a significant number of such patients have no clearly defined etiology of their pancreatitis. To delineate the role of early organ failure versus progressive pancreatic disease in the morbidity and mortality, the authors' experience with patients older than 60 years with acute pancreatitis was reviewed. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: As many as 30%-40% of elderly patients with acute pancreatitis have an unclear etiology and such patients have high rates of early organ failure and death. While some authorities have shown that pre-existing disease in these elderly patients did not contribute to subsequent morbidity, others have demonstrated that poor outcome was related to co-existing medical illness. METHODS: Their review of acute pancreatitis in the elderly was grouped into known and unknown etiology patients. Various parameters such as morbidity, mortality and length of stay were then compared between the two groups. Severity of organ failure and acute pancreatitis on admission were both graded and attempts made to correlate this severity with subsequent outcome. RESULTS: Unknown etiology patients had a greater number of Ranson's criteria (3.5 +/- .44 vs. 2.4 +/- .18) (p < 0.02), higher morbidity (48% vs. 22%) (p < 0.05), higher mortality (24% vs. 8.3%), and more SICU days (4.4 +/- 1.3 vs. 1.6 +/- .44) (p < 0.05) when compared with the known etiology group. Duration of symptoms, admission hypotension, and Ranson's criteria were unsuccessful in predicting mortality. Functional status of the various organ systems on admission did predict subsequent mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with acute pancreatitis of unknown etiology present with a more severe disease, have higher morbidity and longer SICU stays, and appear to have greater compromise of organ function. Organ function compromise correlates with mortality and appears more significant than severity of pancreatic disease. Aggressive support of such organ systems may be beneficial in the management of these patients.     

Non-compliance with national guidelines in the management of acute pancreatitis in the United kingdom

BACKGROUND: Deficiencies and lack of standardisation of the management of acute pancreatitis in the UK have been reported. National UK guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis were published in 1998. However, implementation of national guidelines in other areas has been patchy, suggesting that evaluation of the uptake of the pancreatitis guidelines would be appropriate. AIM: Identification of current practice in the management of acute pancreatitis as reported by consultant surgeons, in order to determine how effectively the UK guidelines have been introduced into practice. METHODS: A questionnaire was posted to 1,072 full members of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. It consisted of 13 questions that aimed to identify the surgeon's practice in the management of patients with acute pancreatitis in relation to key points in the UK guidelines. We compared the practice of hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HBP) vs. non-HBP specialists, and teaching vs. non-teaching hospital surgeons using the chi(2) test. RESULTS: Of 538 responses (50%), 519 were from consultant surgeons. 59 did not look after patients with acute pancreatitis and 89 (17%) had a HBP interest. There were differences between the recommendations in the guidelines and reported practice, particularly in the use of critical care resources and referral to specialist units. Of consultants looking after acute pancreatitis 371 (72%) were non-HBP specialists. There were significant overall differences between the practice of HBP specialists and non-specialists: in severity assessment (Glasgow and C-reactive protein vs. Ranson criteria); indication and timing of requesting computed tomography (routinely at 7-10 days vs. when clinically indicated); nutritional support (enteral feeding vs. no support), and in common bile duct assessment prior to cholecystectomy (intra-operative cholangiography vs. endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). There was no significant difference between practice in teaching and non-teaching hospitals. CONCLUSION: Implementation of national guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis was greater in the practice of HBP specialists than non-specialists. This has implications for the rationale of creating guidelines, and for the strategies associated with their introduction.     

Advantages and disadvantages of planned staged relaparotomy using the zipper technique in surgical treatment of necrotizing pancreatitis

The rationale of surgical intervention during acute necrotizing pancreatitis is to remove necrotic tissue preserving healthy glandular parenchyma and other adjacent structures, thus limiting severe complications. Necrosectomy and debridement are the crucial in surgical management, further treatment of pancreatic bed and peripancreatic tissue are still a matter of debate among pancreatic surgeons. Zipper technique is one of the three recognized methods [table: see text] for the surgical management of necrotizing pancreatitis. The aim this study was to review the literature data about treatment using this technique, as well to compare the results of treatment with other techniques, in order to present the advantage and disadvantage of zipper technique. The main advantage of this technique is a high level of control of intraabdominal infection and other septic complications associated with necrotizing pancreatitis and its surgical management. Increased risk of development of gastrointestinal and pancreatic fistulas as well of intraabdominal bleeding is probably the main disadvantage. A flexible approach focused on the individual patients is a reasonable solution in the surgical management of the necrotizing pancreatitis.     

A national survey of current surgical treatment of acute gallstone disease

BACKGROUND: Acute cholecystitis (AC) and acute pancreatitis are 2 potentially life-threatening complications of gallstone disease. There are national guidelines for the treatment of gallstone pancreatitis, but none exist for the management of AC. Consequently, the management of AC is subject to great variation. AIMS: To establish the preferred management of uncomplicated AC and adherence to the guidelines for management of mild gallstone pancreatitis among all consultant general surgeons working in Scotland. METHOD: A national postal survey of all 192 consultant general surgeons in Scotland. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five responses were received from surgeons, a response rate of 70%. One hundred twenty-six were suitable for further analysis. For uncomplicated AC, 55 (44%) perform urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), 29 (23%) perform same admission LC after clinical improvement. Thirty-eight (30%) perform interval LC after discharge. Within this group, 15 surgeons (12% of all replies analyzed) manage AC conservatively at least partly owing to insufficient operating time or equipment when on call. Factors found to increase the likelihood of carrying out same admission LC are undertaking regular laparoscopic work (P<0.001) and having a specialist upper gastrointestinal or vascular interest. In mild gallstone pancreatitis, 74 (58%) perform same admission LC, 21 (17%) would perform sphincterotomy, 3 (2%) would perform one of these, depending on the patient and 5 (4%) would refer to an upper gastrointestinal colleague. CONCLUSIONS: Uncomplicated AC and mild gallstone pancreatitis are conditions managed by all subspecialties within general surgery in Scotland. The majority of surgeons (67%) now manage AC by same admission LC, although those not performing regular elective laparoscopy are significantly less likely to do so. Of those who manage conservatively, more than a third report lack of resources as being the reason. For mild gallstone pancreatitis, the majority of surgeons in Scotland (61.5%) perform urgent LC in accordance with current guidelines. A significant proportion of surgeons (17%) carry out endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography as first line in all patients despite this being recommended only for those unfit for surgery.     

Disturbances of the microcirculation in acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Severe acute pancreatitis is characterized by pancreatic necrosis, resulting in local and systemic inflammation. Pancreatitis affects both the systemic and pancreatic vasculature. This review focuses on the underlying processes involved in the changes of microvascular anatomy following acute pancreatitis. METHODS: A Medline/PubMed search (January 1966 to December 2005) with manual cross-referencing was conducted. All relevant articles investigating the pancreatic microcirculatory anatomy and the effect of pancreatitis on the microcirculation were included. RESULTS: The pancreas is susceptible to ischaemic insult, which can exacerbate acute pancreatitis. There is also increasing evidence of pancreatic and systemic microvascular disturbances in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis, including vasoconstriction, shunting, inadequate perfusion, and increased blood viscosity and coagulation. These processes may be caused or exacerbated by ischaemia-reperfusion injury and the development of oxygen-derived free radicals. CONCLUSION: Acute pancreatitis impairs the pancreatic and systemic microcirculation, which is a key pathological process in the development of severe necrotizing disease.     

Acute pancreatitis due to pancreatic hydatid cyst: a case report and review of the literature

ABSTRACT: Hydatid disease is a major health problem worldwide. Primary hydatid disease of the pancreas is very rare and acute pancreatitis secondary to hydatid cyst has rarely been reported. We report the case of a 38-year-old man who presented acute pancreatitis. A diagnosis of hydatid cyst of the pancreas, measuring 10 cm, was established by abdominal computed tomography before surgery. The treatment consisted of a distal pancreatectomy. The postoperative period was uneventful. Additionally, a review of the literature regarding case reports of acute pancreatitis due to pancreatic hydatid cyst is presented.     

重症急性胰腺炎的液体复苏与器官保护

重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)的发病率逐年增高,并且起病凶险,致残率、病死率高。重症急性胰腺炎的治疗是一种涉及多个学科,多种手段的综合治疗。不同的学科从不同的角度,有着不同的治疗理念,并且对疾病不同阶段的认识也不同。但在其非手术治疗手段中,有效的液体复苏与脏器保护对降低重症急性胰腺炎的病死率起到非常重要的作用。本文从重症医学的角度,归纳总结了在重症急性胰腺炎治疗过程中,液体复苏治疗及器官保护治疗的最新理念及治疗进展。以及对目前的治疗方法中,存在的问题进行了进一步的剖析。     

Management of acute pancreatitis: results of a 15-year experience in Taiwan

In the past two decades, there have been great changes regarding the policy for treating acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to examine the chronological changes in the management of acute pancreatitis in a tertiary referral center. A retrospective review was carried out of the management approaches for acute pancreatitis in the 15 years since 1984. The patients were divided into groups according to the admission date, representing two periods: period 1, from 1984 through 1992; and period 2, from 1993 through 1999. Decision-making for treating acute pancreatitis was based mainly on Beger's criteria. The background features and treatment outcome were compared between the two periods. The severity of pancreatitis was based on the Atlanta classification system. Octreotide was available from January 1993. No differences could be found between the two periods regarding the patients' background characteristics or severity of pancreatitis. Patients in period 2 had a longer interval between the onset of pancreatitis and surgery, and a lower incidence of pancreatectomy. Although the surgical morbidity, mortality, and reoperation rates were not significantly different between the two periods, more patients with severe acute pancreatitis in period 2 received nonsurgical treatment, and a lower mortality rate was also noted. With improvements in critical care, increasing experience, and better surgical techniques, even patients with severe acute pancreatitis can be treated by nonsurgical means. However, aggressive surgical intervention is necessary for patients who have signs of infected necrosis and whose disease is not controllable by conservative methods.     

重症急性胰腺炎的非手术治疗进展

重症急性胰腺炎是普通外科及ICU常见的一种重症疾病,其起病急、并发症多、病死率高。既往其病死率常高达40%,近年来,重症急性胰腺炎病死率有大幅度降低,其治疗原则也从以手术为主逐渐向早期炎症调控、代谢失衡与内环境紊乱的调节等综合治疗转变。本研究从重症急性胰腺炎的内科治疗和中医治疗方面进行综述,有助于对重症急性胰腺炎治疗的研究。     

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??High risk factors and managements of pancreatic fistula after acute pancreatitis SUN Bei??LI Le. Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery??the First Affiliated Hospital??Harbin Medical University??Harbin 150001??China
Corresponding author: SUN Bei??E-mail: sunbei70@tom.com
Abstract Pancreatic fistula is the most common complication after acute pancreatitis and the clinical manifestations are highly variable. Pancreatic fistula is best managed by a multidisciplinary team comprised of endoscopists??interventional radiologists and surgeons in the field of acute pancreatitis therapy. Minimally invasive oriented and damage control surgery modeled therapeutic concepts leads clinicians to solve the followed complications by conservative treatments and endoscopic treatments. Surgical interventions should be processed only when all the procedures above failed.