Epidemiological characteristic of acute pancreatitis in Trzebnica district

Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common surgical disease, and thus cause of hospitalization. Incidence and etiology of this condition demonstrates large regional differences. This situation is a substantial financial burden forhospital district, and changes in organization structure and funding medical service should be taken under consideration.The aim of the study was to record the epidemiology with etiology, diagnosis and treatment of acute pancreatitis in large district (77 000 inhabitants).Material and methods. A meta-analysis study of all 298 patients admitted to Hospital St Hedwig in Trzebnica, in the six-year period from 2005 to 2010, with acute pancreatitis was performed.Results. Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in 298 patients in the six - year period, giving an estimated incidence of 64.4 per 100 000. Among the group of 441 admissions for acute pancreatitis in 298 patients was confirmed. Severe acute pancreatitis developed in 22.5% (67/298) of patients, more often in males 56/208 (27%) than in females 11/90 (12%). Gallstones were found as an etiological factor in 27% (80/298), and alcohol intake in 49% of patients. 211/298 (70%) patients had only one attack, whereas 29% (87/298) were readmitted with 230 relapses. The risk of recurrent pancreatitis was 48% in alcohol induced and 6,25% in gallstone induced pancreatitis. 53/298 patients (17%) were operated, ERCP procedures were performed in 24.Performed operations: necrosectomy in 25/53 (47%), elective cholecystectomy in 16/53 (30%), open drainage of abdominal abscess in 5/53 (9%), open drainage of cysts in 5/53 (9%), Jurasz's operation in 2/53 (3%). Majority surgical treatment was carried out in 68% cases with severe acute pancreatitis. Mortality due to acute pancreatitis was 3% (10/298); 15% in severe pancreatitis.Conclusions. 1. Acute pancreatitis continues to be an important clinical problem. 2. Severe, necrotic acute pancreatitis is associated with high mortality rates. 3. The ethanol-intake-related episodes of acute pancreatitits are much more prevalent than the gall-stone-related ones. 4. After the exclusion of ethanol- and gall-stones-related etiologies, the subsequent diagnostic process should aim at excluding neoplastic process of the head of pancreas.     

Pancreatic Morphological Changes in Long-Term Follow-Up after Initial Episode of Acute Alcoholic Pancreatitis

Objective

The long-term morphological changes induced by a single episode of alcoholic pancreatitis are not known. Our aim was to study these morphological changes in secretin-stimulated magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (S-MRCP) after the first episode of alcohol-associated acute pancreatitis and to evaluate the risk factors and possible protective factors potentially associated with later chronic findings. We have previously reported 2-year follow-up results in pancreatic morphology. This study extends the follow-up to 9 years.

Patients and Methods

In this prospective follow-up study, S-MRCP imaging was performed for 44 (41 M, 3 F; mean age, 46 (25–68)?years) patients after their first episode of alcohol-associated pancreatitis. Pancreatic morphology was evaluated at 3 months and at 2, 7, and 9 years after hospitalization. Recurrent attacks of pancreatitis were studied and pancreatic function was monitored by laboratory tests. Patients’ alcohol consumption was evaluated with questionnaires, laboratory markers, and self-estimated alcohol consumption via interview. Smoking and body mass index were annually recorded.

Results

At 3 months, 32 % of the patients had normal findings in S-MRCP, 52 % had acute, and 16 % had chronic changes. At 7 years, S-MRCP was performed on 36 patients with normal findings in 53 %, the rest (47 %) having chronic findings. Pancreatic cyst was present in 36 %, parenchymal changes in 28 %, and atrophy in 28 % of the cases. There were no new changes in the pancreas in the attending patients between 7 and 9 years (18 patients). Of the patients with only acute findings at 3 months, 60 % resolved to normal in 7 years, but the rest (40 %) showed chronic changes later on. The initial attack was mild in 65 %, moderate in 25 %, and severe in 10 % of the patients. Patients with mild first attack had fewer chronic changes at 7 years compared to patients with moderate or moderate and severe together (p?=?0.03, p?=?0.01). Of the patients in the seventh year of S-MRCP, 22 % had suffered a recurrent episode of acute pancreatitis (mean, 22 (2–60)?months) and 11 % had a clinical diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. At 7 years, 88 % of the patients with recurrences had chronic findings in S-MRCP versus 36 % with nonrecurrent pancreatitis (p?=?0.02). Six (17 %) patients abstained from alcohol throughout follow-up (mean, 8.7 (7–9.1)?years), but even one of these developed pancreatic atrophy. Out of the non-abstinent patients who did not suffer recurrences, 4/22 (18 %) had developed new findings during at follow-up S-MRCP (NS). In univariate analysis, heavy smoking showed no correlation with increased chronic changes compared to nonsmoking.

Conclusions

Morphological pancreatic changes increase with recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis. Patients with mild first attack have fewer chronic changes in the pancreas in the long term. However, even a single episode of acute alcoholic pancreatitis may induce chronic morphological changes in long-term follow-up.     

The role of serum isoamylase and lipase determinations in clinical practice

To determine the clinical utility of routine determination of serum isoamylase (pancreatic/salivary) and/or lipase activity, sera were tested from 109 consecutive patients with elevated total serum amylase. Without knowledge of the isoamylase and lipase results, an assessment was made of the confidence with which the attending medical staff had made or excluded a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. The attending staff had considered acute pancreatitis to be probable in 78, possible in 12 and unlikely in 19 patients. The confidence of the clinical diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was directly related to the degree of elevation of the serum total amylase: (mean IU/l +/- s.e.m.) probable pancreatitis 1807 +/- 313, possible pancreatitis 680 +/- 74, pancreatitis unlikely 493 +/- 50. Pancreatic isoamylase was elevated in 97% of patients with probable pancreatitis, 92% with possible pancreatitis and 68% in whom pancreatitis had been considered unlikely. Lipase elevations generally parallelled these results. Although gall-stones were usually sought among patients with probable pancreatitis, they were rarely sought in patients in the other categories. In conclusion, amylase isoenzyme or lipase determinations add little information in cases of clinically suspected acute pancreatitis with marked hyperamylasemia. The tests may have a role in the evaluation of patients with clinically unexplained hyperamylasemia by defining more precisely the origin of the amylase.     

How Does Cholecystectomy Influence Recurrence of Idiopathic Acute Pancreatitis?

Background

Idiopathic acute pancreatitis is diagnosed in approximately 10–30 % of cases of acute pancreatitis. While there is evidence to suggest that the cause in many of these patients is microlithiasis, this fact has not been translated into a resource efficient treatment strategy that is proven to reduce recurrence rates. The aim of this study was to examine the value of prophylactic cholecystectomy following an episode of acute pancreatitis in patients with no history of alcohol abuse and no stones found on ultrasound.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 2236 patients who presented to a regional Australian hospital. Patients were included when diagnosed with acute pancreatitis with no confirmed cause. Recurrence of acute pancreatitis was compared between those that did and did not undergo cholecystectomy.

Results

One hundred ninety-five consecutive patients met the study definition of “idiopathic” acute pancreatitis. 33.8 % (66/195) underwent cholecystectomy. The patients who had cholecystectomy had a recurrence rate of 19.7 % (13/66) whereas, of those managed expectantly, 42.8 % (68/159) had at least one recurrence of acute pancreatitis (P?=?0.001).

Conclusions

Following an episode of acute pancreatitis with no identifiable cause, in patients fit for surgery, cholecystectomy should be considered to reduce the risk of recurrent episodes of pancreatitis.

     

Acute Necrotizing Colitis

The condition of acute necrotising colitis is described after experience of 10 cases. This entity is characterised by sudden onset of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhæa, progressing rapidly to produce grave illness with general peritonitis and shock. The pathology is that of intense inflammation of the colonic wall affecting the mucosa first, and leading to the appearance of gangrenous patches. The histological changes include necrosis of the gut wall with inflammatory cell collections and the presence of clostridium-like organisms in the intestinal wall. Periportal infiltrations of inflammatory cells have been noted in the liver. The ætiological factors may include the action of clostridial toxins and perhaps the ingestion of alkali. The disease is highly lethal.     

ACUTE MESENTERIC ISCHÆMIA

The experience of acute mesenteric ischæmia at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, has been reviewed over 17 years. The mortality remains appallingly high. This applies particularly to those patients who had thrombosis of the superior mesenteric artery, amongst whom the mortality in this series was 97%. The mortality was slightly less in the group suffering from embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (66%), and in those suffering from thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein (60%). A mortality of 66% was also found in patients suffering from non-occlusive gut ischæmia. Delay in diagnosis accounted for this high mortality. Early diagnosis is all-important, and this depends on the performance of mesenteric angiography in any patient suspected of having mesenteric ischæmia. Appropriate surgery may then be carried out in the occlusive group and supportive treatment, including intraarterial papaverine infusion, given to those with non-occlusive ischæmia. There is a pressing need for simple non-invasive tests to segregate those patients suffering from acute mesenteric ischæmia from those whose acute abdomen is due to some other cause.     

A prospective study of radionuclide biliary scanning in acute pancreatitis.

Early surgery for biliary pancreatitis has resulted in a need for an accurate method of gallstone detection in acute pancreatitis. Fifty patients with acute pancreatitis were studied prospectively to assess the diagnostic value of Radionuclide Biliary Scanning (RBS) performed within 72 hours of an attack. To assess the general accuracy of RBS a further 154 patients with suspected acute cholecystitis or biliary colic were similarly studied. There were 34 patients with biliary pancreatitis and 18 (53%) had a positive scan (no gallbladder seen). There were 16 patients with non-biliary pancreatitis and 5 (31%) had a positive scan. All 51 patients with acute cholecystitis had a positive scan, as did 82% of the 51 patients with biliary colic. There were 52 patients with no biliary or pancreatic disease and none of these had a positive scan. RBS is highly accurate in confirming a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis or biliary colic. However, it cannot be relied on to differentiate between biliary and non-biliary pancreatitis and should certainly not be used as the basis for biliary surgery in these patients.     

Severe acute pancreatitis. Clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic features

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to define the actual role of surgical therapy in severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis has been carried out on the surgical treatment of severe acute pancreatitis at the Institute of General Surgery and Surgical Specialties, University of Siena (Italy). From January 1980 to December 1997, 230 patients affected by acute pancreatitis were admitted to institution: 24 patients affected by severe disease (necrotizing pancreatitis: clinical and radiological diagnosis, by CT-scan) was choosen for this study. Of 24 patients, 15 were males and 9 females, with mean age of 55 years (range 30-80). In all cases, surgical procedure consisted in pancreatic necrosectomy, multiple abdominal and retroperitoneal drainage and closed management; operated patients with biliary pancreatitis underwent colecystectomy and, if necessary, common biliary duct drainage. RESULTS: The patients underwent surgical procedure, but the remaining 14 were treated by intensive medical care: mortality in these two groups was respectively 40% (4 cases) and 21% (3 cases). CONCLUSION: The conclusion is drawn that intensive medical care is the first therapeutic approach in severe acute pancreatitis, reserving surgery only to selected cases, as those affected by pancreatic infectes necrosis or those who get worse despite of conservative therapy. As to surgical technique, closed procedures vs open or semiopen, and conservative surgery (necrosectomy, multiple drainage and abdominal washing) vs anatomical resection are preferred.     

A correlation between clinical pancreatitis and isoenzyme patterns of amylase

Fifty-seven patients admitted with the clinical diagnosis of acute pancreatitis had isoamylase analysis on their sera to determine the source of their hyperamylasemia. Our objective was to correlate the isoamylase pattern with our clinical observations. Thirty-nine of 57 patients (68%) had pancreatic hyperamylasemia as expected, but 18 of 57 patients (32%) had normal levels of pancreatic amylase. The hyperamylasemia in the latter group was due either to nonpancreatic hyperamylasemia (16 of 57) of macroamylasemia (2 of 57). Consequently, hyperamylasemia associated with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting led to the incorrect diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in 32% of the patients. The measurement of isoamylase profiles can be done rapidly and inexpensively. Knowledge that hyperamylasemia is nonpancreatic in origin may have an important influence on treatment, hospitalization, and the extent of laboratory and radiologic investigation.     

Management of gallstone pancreatitis in Auckland: progress and compliance

Background: Recent advances in the management of acute gallstonepancreatitis include the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy,defining the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) and early cholecystectomy to prevent recurrent pancreatitis.The aim of the present study was to review the current managementof gallstone pancreatitis in Auckland Hospital, compare findingswith a similar study published a decade ago and to determine theextent to which the management is compliant with recently publishedconsensus guidelines. Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients admittedwith acute pancreatitis during a 39‐month study period was undertaken.Data were recorded regarding demographics, diagnosis, predictedand actual severity of gallstone pancreatitis (index and recurrentattacks), the role of ERCP and computed tomography scanning, thetiming of cholecystectomy (open and laparoscopic), intraoperativecholangiography, duration of hospital stay, complications and mortality. Results : There were 216 patients admitted with acute pancreatitis,106 of whom had proven gallstones. An ERCP was performed in 62(59%) patients with gallstone pancreatitis but not morecommonly in patients with severe pancreatitis, and common bile duct stoneswere identified in 26% of these patients. Of the 70 (66%)patients who had a cholecystectomy, 56 (80%) had it within3 weeks of admission. Although the proportion of patientswith gallstone pancreatitis who had a cholecystectomy is similarto the earlier study, there has been a significant increase in theproportion of patients having a cholecystectomy during the indexadmission (χ² = 3.83; P = 0.05).This has resulted in a reduction in recurrent pancreatitis (P < 0.001).Although the overall mortality from gallstone pancreatitis has notsignificantly decreased, it has for patients with predicted severegallstone pancreatitis (P = 0.02). Conclusion : There has been reasonable compliance with publishedguidelines and some progress in the management of gallstone pancreatitis,particularly in relation to performing timely laparoscopic cholecystectomywith a reduction in the incidence of recurrent pancreatitis. Concernsremain regarding the overuse of diagnostic ERCP in patients withmild pancreatitis.     

Compliance with Evidence-Based Guidelines in Acute Pancreatitis: an Audit of Practices in University of Toronto Hospitals

Despite existing evidence-based practice guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis, clinical compliance with recommendations is poor. We conducted a retrospective review of 248 patients admitted between 2010 and 2012 with acute pancreatitis at eight University of Toronto affiliated hospitals. We included all patients admitted to ICU (52) and 25 ward patients from each site (196). Management was compared with the most current evidence used in the Best Practice in General Surgery Management of Acute Pancreatitis Guideline. Fifty-six patients (22.6 %) had only serum lipase tested for biochemical diagnosis. Admission ultrasound was performed in 174 (70.2 %) patients, with 69 (27.8 %) undergoing ultrasound and CT. Of non-ICU patients, 158 (80.6 %) were maintained nil per os, and only 18 (34.6 %) ICU patients received enteral nutrition, commencing an average 7.5 days post-admission. Fifty (25.5 %) non-ICU patients and 25 (48.1 %) ICU patients received prophylactic antibiotics. Only 24 patients (22.6 %) with gallstone pancreatitis underwent index admission cholecystectomy. ERCP with sphincterotomy was under-utilized among patients with biliary obstruction (16 [31 %]) and candidates for prophylactic sphincterotomy (18 [22 %]). Discrepancies exist between the most current evidence and clinical practice within the University of Toronto hospitals. A guideline, knowledge translation strategy, and assessment of barriers to clinical uptake are required to change current clinical practice.     

Differentiated surgical tactic in patients with an acute biliary pancreatitis and the jaundice syndrome

The outcome was analyzed in 466 patients, treated for an acute pancreatitis in 1997--2003 yrs. In 187 (40.1%) of patients the jaundice had occurred. The surgical tactic was elaborated, depending on the jaundice origin. The extrahepatic biliary ducts pathology have had constituted the acute pancreatitis etiology in 119 (64%) patients and the alimentary causes--in 68 (36%). The predominant application of miniinvasive methods, such as endoscopic papillosphincterotomy with lithoextraction, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, transcutaneous puncture-draining interventions under ultrasonographic control, was based on the proved evidence of efficacy of the staged surgical treatment in patients with biliary acute pancreatitis and the jaundice syndrome; open method was used according to indications.     

Clinical Diversity in Biliary Pancreatitis — Classification of Two Types

One hundred and seven patients with biliary pancreatitis undergoing operation from 1976 to 1989 were reviewed. To clarify the reason for failure to respond to conventional supportive therapy, 73 patients (68%) who underwent emergency surgery were retrospectively divided into two groups according to the severity of the pancreatitis evaluated at laparotomy and compared. Sixty-two had minimal or mild pancreatitis (Group I), among whom 44 (71%) had life-threatening acute biliary tract disease. All underwent biliary surgery and 4 (6%) subsequently died, 2 due to acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis. Eleven had hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis (Group II), among whom 7 had complications of acute pancreatitis such as pancreatic ascites or abscess. These underwent pancreatic and/or biliary surgery and 3 (27%) died of multi-organ failure.There appears to be two types of biliary pancreatitis refractory to conventional supportive therapy, which differ in the extent of surgery required and in mortality: (1) minimal or mild pancreatitis with persistent life-threatening acute biliary tract disease (biliary type), and (2) more severe pancreatitis (pancreas type) early in the course of the disease.     

慢性胰腺炎的外科治疗

目的 改善慢性胰腺炎的外科治疗效果。方法 回顾性分析我院外科1983－2000年收治的34例慢性胰腺炎病人的临床资料，并将其分为慢性钙化性胰腺炎及慢性梗阻性胰腺炎两组。结果 男性23例（68％），女性11例（32％），平均年龄52.89岁。嗜酒者23例（67.65%），合并胆石症者13例（38.24%），继往有急性胰腺炎发作者11例（32.35%）。主诉腹痛者28例（82.35%），合并黄疸者17例（50％），慢性钙化性胰腺炎与慢性梗阻性胰腺炎在某些临床表现间存在显著性差异，提示二者可能存在不同的发病机制。34 病人分别采用9种不同的手术方式，无围手术期死亡。Puestow手术及胰十二指肠切除可有效地缓解疼痛，并可改善胰外分泌功能，对胰内分泌的影响不大。Puestow手术并行胆肠吻合适于合并胆道狭窄的慢性胰腺炎病人，而仅行胆道引流效果不佳。结论 慢性胰腺炎的外科治疗应采用个体化原则，如合并胰管扩张可行Puestow引流手术，胰头炎性包块病人应行切除手术。     

Acute idiopathic pancreatitis preceding diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Description of three cases

Acute idiopathic pancreatitis seems to represent a rare extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease usually appearing after the establishment of diagnosis of the intestinal disorder. The aim of this study was to describe the clinicoepidemiological characteristics and clinical course of three patients with Crohn's disease who developed acute idiopathic pancreatitis years before the establishment of diagnosis intestinal disease. DESCRIPTION OF CASES: All patients were suffering from Crohn's disease. In all patients, an extensive work-up aiming to identify an etiological factor involved in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis was negative. The main clinical characteristics of the patients were the young age, the mild or moderate degree of severity of pancreatitis, and the concurrent involvement of small and large bowel from Crohn's disease in two of them. There was no preference for either male or female sex. The course of pancreatitis was favorable in all patients. During the follow-up period, ranging from 2 to 8 years, no exacerbation of pancreatitis was noticed. CONCLUSION: This case-series suggests that acute idiopathic pancreatitis could precede diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Clinicians must bear in mind the possibility of the existence of Crohn's disease when they are confronting a young patient with clinical and laboratory features of acute idiopathic pancreatitis.     

Evaluation of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as a primary investigation in patients with acute upper abdominal pain

Fifty-six consecutive patients presenting to one general surgical unit with acute upper abdominal pain were submitted to early diagnostic endoscopy after exclusion of perforation, pancreatitis and gallstone disease. Endoscopy was performed within 48 h of admission in 84% of patients and 68% of the study group were discharged within 48 h of the procedure. In 26 patients a definite causative pathology was identified. In 13 patients there were mucosal changes of doubtful significance, while in 17 patients the examination was normal. Endoscopy in patients admitting to excess alcohol intake was generally unrewarding and there was poor correlation between the clinical diagnosis of peptic ulcer and endoscopic findings. The clinical diagnosis was revised in 64% of patients following endoscopy. The data from this study suggest that early endoscopy in acute upper abdominal pain results in a high yield of positive findings, permits rapid correction of diagnostic errors and facilitates early institution of management and discharge.     

COVID-19 associated pancreatitis: A mini case-series

IntroductionOne of the recognized causes of acute pancreatitis is viral-induced pancreatitis. The SARS-COV-2 virus has been linked to pancreatic injury and hence the causation of acute pancreatitis. This paper reports three cases of acute pancreatitis linked to COVID-19 infection adding to serving to further consolidate evidence.Case presentationThree patients aged between 63 and 87 years were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and concomitant or previous COVID-19 infection. Criteria for diagnosis of pancreatitis were according to the revised Atlanta criteria. None of the patients had had previous episodes of pancreatitis and other aetiologies were not suggestive. The patients were not vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Supportive treatment was instituted for the three patients, and all made an uneventful recovery. Mean hospital stay was 4 days.DiscussionThe diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in the presented cases is being linked to COVID-19 infection, as other causes were not evident. There is however a confounding factor, as the patient in case 2 had slightly elevated triglyceride levels and had been on long-term low dose atorvastatin, both of which are associated with a low risk of acute pancreatitis. However, she had never had pancreatitis prior to this presentation.ConclusionThe novel virus SARS-COV-2 has also been linked to pancreatic damage and thus a possible causative factor in acute pancreatitis. This mini-case series presents three cases of acute pancreatitis in COVID-19 positive patients, in the absence of other risk factors. This phenomenon linking COVID-19 and pancreatitis has been expounded by other case reports and cohort studies from around the world. It is reasonable to acknowledge that, like other viruses, SARS CoV-2 may cause acute pancreatitis, although sounder evidence from the international community needs to be compiled.     

Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis and Severe Hepatic Failure: Description of Three Cases

Introduction

Acute pancreatitis is not uncommon in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) as confirmed by histology or serology. A few reports exist of symptomatic pancreatitis in the setting of acute viral hepatitis; the diagnosis is usually made intraoperatively or postmortem. We report three cases of liver transplant (OLT) recipients with severe acute liver failure and severe acute pancreatitis as an intraoperative finding.

Methods

We undertook a retrospective review among a large cohort of liver transplant recipients to define the impact of this problem.

Results

Between 1999 and 2007, 293. LTs were performed including 15 (5%) who had severe acute liver failure (nine with FHF and six with an emergency retransplantation [ER]). Among this group, three patients were diagnosed intraoperatively with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP): two patients with associated FHF and one with an ER due to ABO incompatibility. None of the patients had symptoms of pancreatitis. In all, ANP was classified as Balthazar CT grade D-E, which determined the outcome. All the patients developed a pseudocyst and abscess, which required surgical drains.

Conclusion

ANP was diagnosed as an intraoperative finding in patients with FHF. The mechanism of pancreatitis in patients with FHF is unknown. It may be multifactorial (virus, acute liver failure, hypotension, infection, drug-induced lesion,). This association leads to a worse outcome due to the complications.     

Endoscopic sphincterotomy in acute gallstone pancreatitis: a prospective study of the late outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcome after acute biliary pancreatitis in patients treated during the acute attack by endoscopic sphincterotomy without cholecystectomy. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: University hospital, Norway. SUBJECTS: 130 patients with gallstones and acute pancreatitis. In 62 patients with common bile duct stones the bile duct was cleared by sphincterotomy and stone extraction. The remaining 68 patients had prophylactic sphincterotomy. Cholecystectomy was not planned later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of recurrent acute pancreatitis and need for cholecystectomy. RESULTS: 21 patients were dead or not available for the follow-up. Consequently 109 patients were followed-up for a median of 39 months (range 23-62). One patient had recurrent pancreatitis. 20 patients had a cholecystectomy later for symptoms related to gallstone disease. Of the rest, 25 patients had moderate or mild gallstone-related symptoms. There was no difference in gallstone-related symptoms between those who had had stones in the bile duct and those who had not. 63 patients had no symptoms related to gallstones. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic sphincterotomy during or immediately after acute gallstone pancreatitis resulted in half the patients being free of symptoms during the next three years.     

Accuracy of a CT density threshold enhancement to identify pancreatic parenchyma necrosis in acute pancreatitis during the first week

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to identify attenuation threshold value on computed tomography (CT) that allowed discriminating between interstitial edematous pancreatitis (IEP) and necrotizing pancreatitis (NP) in patients with acute pancreatitis during the first week of the disease and evaluate interobserver reproducibility for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis category.Materials and methodsPatients with acute pancreatitis who underwent CT examination of the abdomen between March 2015 and December 2019 were retrospectively included. Actual diagnosis of IEP or NP was based on final clinical report, follow-up evaluation, and complications. Six regions of interest were manually placed in the pancreatic gland and peripancreatic fat, and differences in CT attenuation values before contrast injection and during the portal venous phase of enhancement were computed. Performance in the diagnosis of AP category was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Interobserver agreement was estimated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland Altman analysis was used to estimate reproducibility between pairs of observers.ResultsSixty-six patients with NP (46 men, 20 women; mean age, 55 ± 17 [SD] years; age range: 20-89 years) and 70 patients with IEP (39 men, 31 women; mean age, 54 ± 18 [SD] years; age range: 21–87 years) were included. An enhancement value less than 30 Hounsfield units (HU) in the pancreatic gland during the portal phase compared to non-contrast phase, yielded 90.9% sensitivity (60/66; 95% CI: 81.3–96.6), 94.3% specificity (66/70; 95% CI: 86.0–98.4) and an area under curve of 0.958 (95% CI: 0.919–0.996) for the diagnosis of NP versus IEP. Interobserver reproducibility for pancreas enhancement was good using Bland Altman plot and ICC was excellent for pancreatic gland analysis (ICC 0.978; 95% CI: 0.961–0.988) but poor or moderate (ICC ≤0.634) regarding peripancreatic fat necrosis.ConclusionBy using a pancreas enhancement threshold value of 30 HU, CT is accurate and reproducible for the diagnosis of NP during the first week of the disease.