Management and outcomes of acute pancreatitis patients over the last decade: A US tertiary-center experience

Background/objectives: Acute pancreatitis (AP) management remains largely supportive and can be challenging in patients with severe disease. This study aims to describe a ten-year US tertiary-center experience in managing AP patients.

Methods: Clinical management and outcomes of 400 prospectively enrolled AP patients stratified by the Revised Atlanta Classification were analyzed; trends in management between early (2004-2008) and late enrollment phase (2009-2014) were assessed.

Results: Fifty-two% of patients were classified as mild AP (MAP); moderately severe (MoAP) and severe (SAP) grades contained 23.5% and 24.5% of participants. Intravenous fluid administration during the first 24 h (MAP 3.7, MoAP 4.7, and SAP 4.8 L), need for ICU (6%, 23%, 93%), and nutritional support (7%, 51%, 90%) increased significantly with greater AP severity (p < 0.001). One hundred fifty five (39%) patients developed necrotizing AP, of which 41% received prophylactic antibiotics, and 44% underwent pancreatic drainage/debridement. Prophylactic antibiotics (58% vs. 27%) and interventions (63% vs. 27%) were noted more frequently in SAP than MoAP (p < 0.001). Enteral nutrition (18% vs. 30%) and minimally invasive pancreatic interventions (19% vs. 41%) were more commonly used in the late phase (p < 0.05). The overall median length of hospitalization was 7 days reaching 29 days in SAP group. Mortality was 5%; all deaths occurred in SAP group.

Conclusions: This study provides an extensive report on clinical management of AP and its trends overtime. Pancreatic intervention is required in less than 50% of patients with necrotizing pancreatitis. Utilization of enteral nutrition and minimally invasive pancreatic interventions has been increasing over time.