Diagnostic criteria and severity assessment of acute cholecystitis: Tokyo Guidelines

Changes in cytokines and chemokines in an acute pancreatitis model

BACKGROUND

The immune response secondary to inflammation that develops in acute pancreatitis plays an important role in the clinical course of the disease. This study aims to evaluate the changes in various cytokines and chemokines according to the severity of pancreatitis.

METHODS

Twenty-one female Wistar albino rats were divided into three equal groups. The control group received no intervention. Intraperitoneal cerulein was administered to the other groups once per hour for five hours at doses of 50 µg/kg and 80 µg/kg for the mild and severe pancreatitis groups, respectively. The development of pancreatitis and its severity level were confirmed by histological evaluation after euthanization. Blood samples were taken from all rats to measure levels of Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 1 (CXCL-1), Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF), IL-18, IL-12p70, IL-1β, IL-17A, IL-33, IL-1α, and IL-6. Additionally, the Schoenberg inflammation scores of pancreatic tissues were evaluated.

RESULTS

The acute pancreatitis model was successfully induced in all cases within the study groups, according to histopathological examination. It was found that the levels of CXCL-1, MCP-1, and IL-6 were statistically significantly higher in rats with pancreatitis, with these parameters being elevated in the group with severe pancreatitis. In correlation analyses, MCP-1 and IL-6 showed a moderate correlation with the severity of pancreatitis.

CONCLUSION

CXCL-1, MCP-1, and IL-6 exhibit predictive characteristics for the occurrence and clinical course of pancreatitis. Our results highlight the production and working pathways of these cytokines as potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Understanding the role of frailty in local and systemic complications and healthcare resource utilization in acute pancreatitis: Findings from a national cohort

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a significant gastrointestinal cause of hospitalization with increasing incidence. Risk stratification is crucial for determining AP outcomes, but the association between frailty and AP outcomes is poorly understood. Moreover, age disparities in severity indices for AP complicate risk assessment. This study investigates frailty's impact on local and systemic complications in AP, readmission rates, and healthcare resource utilization.

METHODS

Using the National Readmission Database from 2016 to 2019, we identified adult AP patients and assessed frailty using the Frailty Risk Score. Our analysis included local and systemic complications, resource utilization, readmission rates, procedures performed, and hospitalization outcomes. Multivariate regression was employed, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05 using Stata version 14.2.

RESULTS

Among 1,134,738 AP patients, 6.94 % (78,750) were classified as frail, with a mean age of 63.42 years and 49.71 % being female. Frail patients experienced higher rates of local complications (e.g., pseudocyst, acute pancreatic necrosis, walled-off necrosis) and systemic complications (e.g., pleural effusion, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, abdominal compartment syndrome) compared to non-frail patients. Frailty was associated with increased readmission rates and served as an independent predictor of readmission. Frail patients had higher inpatient mortality (7.11 % vs. 1.60 %), longer hospital stays, and greater hospitalization costs.

CONCLUSION

Frailty in AP patients is linked to elevated rates of local and systemic complications, increased mortality, and higher healthcare costs. Assessing frailty is crucial in AP management as it provides a valuable tool for risk stratification and identifying high-risk patients, thereby improving overall outcomes.

The Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of acute pancreatitis in children and adolescents

Acute pancreatitis (AP) and recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) are conditions, whose incidence is apparently on the rise. Despite the ever-increasing evidence regarding the management of AP in children and adults, therapeutic actions that could potentially affect having a poor prognosis in those patients, especially in the pediatric population, continue to be carried out. Therefore, the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología convened a group of 24 expert pediatric gastroenterologists from different institutions and areas of Mexico, as well as 2 pediatric nutritionists and 2 specialists in pediatric surgery, to discuss different aspects of the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AP and RAP in the pediatric population. The aim of this document is to present the consensus results. Different AP topics were addressed by 6 working groups, each of which reviewed the information and formulated statements considered pertinent for each module, on themes involving recommendations and points of debate, concerning diagnostic or therapeutic approaches. All the statements were presented and discussed. They were then evaluated through a Delphi process, with electronic and anonymous voting, to determine the level of agreement on the statements. A total of 29 statements were formulated, all of which reached above 75% agreement in the first round of voting.

Predicting Severity of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis has a diverse etiology and natural history, and some patients have severe complications with a high risk of mortality. The prediction of the severity of acute pancreatitis should be achieved by a careful ongoing clinical assessment coupled with the use of a multiple-factor scoring system and imaging studies. Over the past 40 years, various scoring systems have been suggested to predict the severity of acute pancreatitis. However, there is no definite and ideal scoring system with a high sensitivity and specificity. The interest in new biological markers and predictive models for identifying severe acute pancreatitis testifies to the continued clinical importance of early severity prediction. Although contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) is considered the gold standard for diagnosing pancreatic necrosis, early scanning for the prediction of severity is limited because the full extent of pancreatic necrosis may not develop within the first 48 h of presentation. This article provides an overview of the available scoring systems and biochemical markers for predicting severe acute pancreatitis, with a focus on their characteristics and limitations.

Proposal of the term “gallstone cholangiopancreatitis” to specify gallstone pancreatitis that needs urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Opie’s “pancreatic duct obstruction” and “common channel” theories are generally accepted as explanations of the mechanisms involved in gallstone acute pancreatitis (AP). Common channel elucidates the mechanism of necrotizing pancreatitis due to gallstones. For pancreatic duct obstruction, the clinical picture of most patients with ampullary stone impaction accompanied by biliopancreatic obstruction is dominated by life-threatening acute cholangitis rather than by AP, which clouds the understanding of the severity of gallstone AP. According to the revised Atlanta classification, it is difficult to consider these clinical features as indications of severe pancreatitis. Hence, the term “gallstone cholangiopancreatitis” is suggested to define severe disease complicated by acute cholangitis due to persistent ampullary stone impaction. It incorporates the terms “cholangitis” and “gallstone pancreatitis.” “Cholangitis” refers to acute cholangitis due to cholangiovenous reflux through the foci of extensive hepatocyte necrosis reflexed by marked elevation in transaminase levels caused by persistent ampullary obstruction. “Gallstone pancreatitis” refers to elevated pancreatic enzyme levels consequent to pancreatic duct obstruction. This pancreatic lesion is characterized by minimal or mild inflammation. Gallstone cholangiopancreatitis may be valuable in clinical practice for specifying gallstone AP that needs urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Comparison of double-layer large-diameter and conventional small-diameter plastic stents for preoperative biliary drainage in resectable distal malignant biliary obstruction

The use of a plastic stent (PS) in resectable patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO) is uncommon due to the high failure rate of this method. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a double-layer, large-diameter PS as a bridge to surgery compared with a conventional PS. This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. In total, 129 consecutive patients with DMBO underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between January 2011 and March 2018. Fifty-five patients who preoperatively underwent plastic biliary drainage were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups based on stent diameter: a large-diameter plastic stent (LPS) group and a small-diameter plastic stent (SPS) group. The primary endpoint was the stent patency period, and the secondary endpoint was the medical cost. Thirty-six patients received SPSs; 19 patients received LPSs. The patency rate until surgery was significantly higher in the LPS group than in the SPS group (89.5% vs. 41.7%, P = 0.0006). Multivariate analysis revealed that LPS use was significantly associated with sufficient stent patency. The total cost of LPS use was significantly lower than that of SPS use. LPSs had longer patency and reduced medical costs than SPSs. LPSs may be suitable for patients with DMBO who are scheduled to undergo surgery.

Roles of Autophagy and Pancreatic Secretory Trypsin Inhibitor in Trypsinogen Activation in Acute Pancreatitis

The focus of the review is on roles of autophagy and pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI), an endogenous trypsin inhibitor, in trypsinogen activation in acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is a disease in which tissues in and around the pancreas are autodigested by pancreatic digestive enzymes. This reaction is triggered by the intrapancreatic activation of trypsinogen. Autophagy causes trypsinogen and cathepsin B, a trypsinogen activator, to colocalize within the autolysosomes. Consequently, if the resultant trypsin activity exceeds the inhibitory activity of PSTI, the pancreatic digestive enzymes are activated, and they cause autodigestion of the acinar cells. Thus, autophagy and PSTI play important roles in the development and suppression of acute pancreatitis, respectively.

Aging and Comorbidities in Acute Pancreatitis I: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review Based on 194,702 Patients

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common cause of hospitalization among gastrointestinal diseases worldwide. Although most of the cases are mild, approximately 10-20% of patients develop a severe course of disease with higher mortality rate. Scoring systems consider age as a risk factor of mortality and severity (BISAP; >60 years, JPN>70 years, RANSON; >55 years, APACHE II >45 years). If there is a correlation between aging and the clinical features of AP, how does age influence mortality and severity? Aim: This study aimed to systematically review the effects of aging on AP. Methods: A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted in the Embase, Cochrane, and Pubmed databases. A meta-analysis was performed using the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis statement (PRISMA). A total of 1,100 articles were found. After removing duplicates and articles containing insufficient or irrelevant data, 33 publications involving 194,702 AP patients were analyzed. Seven age categories were determined and several mathematical models, including conventional mathematical methods (linear regression), meta-analyses (random effect model and heterogeneity tests), meta-regression, funnel plot and Egger's test for publication bias were performed. Quality assessment was conducted using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The meta-analysis was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42017079253). Results: Aging greatly influences the outcome of AP. There was a low severe AP incidence in patients under 30 (1.6%); however, the incidence of severe AP showed a continuous, linear increase between 20 and 70 (0.193%/year) of up to 9.6%. The mortality rate was 0.9% in patients under 20 and demonstrated a continuous linear elevation until 59, however from this age the mortality rate started elevating with 9 times higher rate until the age of 70. The mortality rate between 20 and 59 grew 0.086%/year and 0.765%/year between 59 and 70. Overall, patients above 70 had a 19 times higher mortality rate than patients under 20. The mortality rate rising with age was confirmed by meta-regression (coefficient: 0.037 CI: 0.006-0.068, p = 0.022; adjusted r2: 13.8%), and severity also (coefficient: 0.035 CI: 0.019-0.052, p < 0.001; adjusted r2: 31.6%). Conclusion: Our analysis shows a likelihood of severe pancreatitis, as well as, pancreatitis-associated mortality is more common with advanced age. Importantly, the rapid elevation of mortality above the age of 59 suggests the involvement of additional deteriorating factors such as co-morbidity in elderly.

Are traditional scoring systems for severity stratification of acute pancreatitis sufficient?

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS

Ranson's score (RS) and Glasgow score (GS) have been utilized to stratify the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of this study was to validate RS and GS for stratifying the severity of acute pancreatitis and audit our experience of managing AP.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of patients treated for AP from July 2009 to September 2016. Final severity was determined using the revised Atlanta classification. Mortality and complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

From July 2009 to September 2016, a total of 675 patients with a diagnosis of AP were admitted at the hospital. Of them, 669 patients who had sufficient data were analyzed. Their average age±SD was 58.7±17.4 years (range, 21-98 years). There was a male preponderance (n=393, 53.8%). A total of 82 (12.3%) patients had eventual severe pancreatitis. RS demonstrated a sensitivity of 92.7% and a specificity of 52.8% with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 21.5% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98.1%. GS demonstrated a sensitivity of 76.8% and a specificity of 69.2% with a PPV of 25.8% and a NPV of 95.5%. For severity prediction, areas under the curve (AUCs) for RS and GS were 0.848 (95% CI: 0.819-0.875) and 0.784 (95% CI: 0.750-0.814), respectively (p=0.003). Twelve (1.6%) patients died in the hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

RS has higher sensitivity, NPV and AUC for predicting severity of AP than GS.

Impact of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial and Fungal Infections in Outcome of Acute Pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

The knowledge about pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns is essential to select an appropriate antibiotic.

METHODS

We investigated the microbiological profile in pancreatic and extrapancreatic infections, and antibiotic sensitivity pattern in patients with acute pancreatitis.

RESULTS

Of 556 patients with acute pancreatitis, only 189 developed bacterial infection; however, bacteremia was present in 42 patients (7.6%). Culture-proven infected pancreatic necrotic collection was present in 161 patients (29%). Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common organisms. Among the bacterial infection cohort, 164 patients developed multidrug-resistant bacterial infection. Infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria, especially at multiple sites, increased mortality. Nearly 50% of patients (n = 94) acquired extremely drug-resistant bacterial infection at some time and emerged as key reason for prolonged hospital and intensive care unit stay. Colistin resistance and tigecycline resistance were documented in 2.1% and 17.2% of the specimens at admission and in 4.6% and 21% of specimens during the hospital stay. Of 556 patients, 102 patients developed fungal infection and 28 patients had only fungal infection without bacterial infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Colistin and tigecycline are best reserved as last-resort antibiotics. Fungal infection was found to be associated with increased mortality, median hospital stay, and intensive care unit stay.

Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein and Citrulline as Markers of Gut Injury and Prognosis in Patients With Acute Pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

Severe acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with high mortality due to systemic inflammatory response syndrome in the early phase and secondary infection in the later phase. Concomitant intestinal ischemia often results in gut injury. We studied intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) and citrulline levels as markers of gut injury to predict prognosis in AP.

METHODS

Acute pancreatitis patients at admission and controls were studied. Serum IFABP was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and plasma citrulline by high-performance liquid chromatography technique. Ultrastructural changes in duodenal biopsy were also compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

The IFABP concentration was significantly higher in AP cases (n = 94) compared with controls (n = 100) (mean [standard deviation], 592.5 [753.6] vs 87.8 [67.6] pg/mL; P < 0.001) and in patients with severe AP versus mild AP (738.3 [955.3] vs 404.0 [263.3] pg/ mL, P = 0.03). Citrulline concentration was lower in AP versus controls (29.9 [33.8] vs 83.9 [60.1] μg/L, P < 0.001). We propose a model by which these biomarkers (IFABP >350 pg/mL and citrulline <18 μg/L) are able to predict poor prognosis in 33.9% of patients with AP. The gut injury was also validated via ultrastructural changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Intestinal fatty acid binding protein is a promising prognostic marker in acute pancreatitis.

Comparison of multifactor scoring systems and single serum markers for the early prediction of the severity of acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether the current scoring systems and single serum markers used in pancreatitis remain applicable for the early prediction of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) and the severity and mortality of acute pancreatitis (AP) in accordance with the revised Atlanta and determinant-based classifications.

METHODS

Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data from 708 consecutive patients with AP were prospectively collected between January 2011 and December 2012. The severity was classified using the revised Atlanta and determinant-based classification systems. The predictive accuracies for moderately severe AP (MSAP), severe AP (SAP), critically severe AP (CAP), IPN, and mortality were measured using area under the receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS

The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the multifactor scoring systems and single serum markers had a low predictive accuracy regarding moderately severe AP. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score had the highest accuracy in predicting SAP with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.75 (95% CI = 0.71-0.79) and 0.77 (95% CI = 0.73-0.81) at 24 and 48 h after admission, respectively. Procalcitonin was the most accurate predictor for CAP and IPN, with respective AUCs of 0.86 (95% CI = 0.82-0.89) and 0.83 (95% CI = 0.78-0.87) at 48 h after admission. In predicting mortality, both the APACHE II score and blood urea nitrogen had the highest accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

The APACHE II score had the highest predictive accuracy for SAP and mortality as defined by the revised Atlanta classification, whereas procalcitonin was the most accurate predictor for CAP and IPN.

Early diagnosis of pancreatic necrosis based on perfusion CT to predict the severity of acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Perfusion CT can diagnose pancreatic necrosis in early stage of severe acute pancreatitis, accurately. However, no study to date has examined whether early diagnosis of pancreatic necrosis is useful in predicting persistent organ failure (POF).

METHODS

We performed a multi-center prospective observational cohort study to investigate whether perfusion CT can predict the development of POF in the early stage of AP, based on early diagnosis of the development of pancreatic necrosis (PN). From 2009 to 2012, we examined patients showing potential early signs of severe AP (n = 78) on admission. Diagnoses for the development of PN were made prospectively by on-site physicians on the admission based on perfusion CT (diagnosis 1). Blinded retrospective reviews were performed by radiologists A and B, having 8 and 13 years of experience as radiologists (diagnosis 2 and 3), respectively. Positive diagnosis for the development of PN were assumed equivalent to positive predictions for the development of POF. We then calculated the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic for POF predictions.

RESULTS

Fourteen (17.9%) and 23 patients (29.5%) developed PN and POF, respectively. For diagnoses 1, 2, and 3, AUCs for POF predictions were 74, 68, and 73, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Perfusion CT diagnoses pancreatic necrosis and on that basis predicts the development of POF; http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index-j.htm,UMIN000001926 .

Revised Japanese guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis 2015: revised concepts and updated points

BACKGROUND

Taking together the recent dramatic changes of the revised Atlanta classification and evidence newly obtained such as the role of step-up approach for necrotizing pancreatitis, the revision committee of the Japanese (JPN) Guidelines 2015 was prompted to perform an extensive revision of the guidelines.

METHODS

The JPN Guidelines 2015 was compared to the former edition 2010, and revision concepts and major revision points were reviewed. We compared the JPN 2015 with the other two guidelines, International Association of Pancreatology (IAP)/American Pancreas Association (APA) 2013 and American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2013, in order to clarify the distinct points.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis team conducted a new meta-analysis of four subjects that have been associated with conflicting results. It is apparent that the revised guidelines have been created more systematically and more objectively. As of antibiotics prophylaxis, its use in early phase (within 72 h of onset) for severe acute pancreatitis is recommended in JPN 2015 according to the results of original meta-analysis, whereas the other two guidelines do not recommend its routine use. An approach and management of local complications in necrotizing pancreatitis including infected necrosis are almost similar in the three guidelines. JPN 2015 alone emphasizes the implementation of the pancreatitis bundles that specify the management and treatment within the first 48 h after the onset of severe acute pancreatitis.

CONCLUSION

The JPN Guidelines 2015 prove to be the highest quality in terms of systematic literature review conducting original analyses by the meta-analysis team, determining the grading of recommendations and providing pancreatitis bundles.

Pancreatic cancer causing acute pancreatitis: a comparative study with cancer patients without pancreatitis and pancreatitis patients without cancer

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Although pancreatic cancer produces upstream obstructive pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis is a less common manifestation of pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to clarify the subgroup of pancreatic cancer patients who present with an episode of acute pancreatitis (Group I) in comparison with a matched group of pancreatic cancer patients without pancreatitis (Group II) and another group of acute pancreatitis patients without pancreatic cancer (Group III).

METHODS

This was a retrospective comparative study of 18 patients in Group I, 300 patients in Group II and 141 patients in Group III.

RESULTS

The mean age of Group I was 63.7 years and the male to female ration was 1:0.3. Serum CA 19-9 levels were elevated in 80 %. The main pancreatic duct was incompletely obstructed in 7 patients. There were no significant differences in location of tumor, clinical stage, resection rate and survival months between Group I and II. Acute pancreatitis secondary to pancreatic cancer was more likely to be mild (94 vs. 72 %,p < 0.05) and relapsed (39 vs. 16 %,p < 0.05) compared with Group III.

CONCLUSIONS

Anatomic evaluation of the pancreas should be performed in patients with acute pancreatitis with no obvious etiology, even if the pancreatitis is mild, to search for underlying malignancy.

Severity assessment of acute pancreatitis: applying Marshall scoring system

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of the Marshall scoring system to evaluate the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods : We performed a prospective, observational study in 39 patients with AP evaluated by the Marshall scoring system and the Ranson criteria (admission and 48 hours). We assessed the progression of the disease for seven days and compared the data of the two criteria. Results : Seven patients died during the observation period and one died afterwards. All deaths had shown failure of at least one system by the Marshall method. Conclusion : The Marshall scoring system may be used as an effective and simplified application method to assess the severity of acute pancreatitis.

Efficacy of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin in preventing walled-off necrosis in severe acute pancreatitis patients

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rTM) in preventing the development of walled-off necrosis (WON) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 54 SAP patients divided into two groups: SAP patients treated by rTM (rTM group, 24 patients) and not treated by rTM (control group, 30 patients). rTM was administered to patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Initially, on the admission day, we recorded patient severity and pancreatic necrosis/ischemia positive or negative. Then we investigated development of WON using 4 weeks later CT/MRI. Finally we compared the proportions of patients developing WON in the rTM group and the control group.

RESULTS

On the admission day, the condition of patients treated by rTM was significantly worse than patients in the control group; rTM group vs.

CONTROL

71.8 ± 13.9 vs. 59.8 ± 15.3 years for age, 10.7 ± 3.5 vs. 8.0 ± 4.4 for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, and 3.3 ± 1.8 vs. 2.2 ± 1.8 for sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (p < 0.05). We found no significant differences on the admission day in rate of pancreatic necrosis/ischemia between patients treated by rTM and controls (58.3% vs. 63.3%, p = 0.71). Nevertheless, the proportion of patients developing WON was significantly lower among those administered rTM than in those not administered rTM {29.2% (7/24 patients) vs. 56.7% (17/30 patients), p < 0.05}.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of SAP patients treated by rTM may prevent progression from pancreatic necrosis/ischemia to WON.

Consensus guidelines on severe acute pancreatitis

This Position Paper contains clinically oriented guidelines by the Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas (AISP) for the diagnosis and treatment of severe acute pancreatitis. The statements were formulated by three working groups of experts who searched and analysed the most recent literature; a consensus process was then performed using a modified Delphi procedure. The statements provide recommendations on the most appropriate definition of the complications of severe acute pancreatitis, the diagnostic approach and the timing of conservative as well as interventional endoscopic, radiological and surgical treatments.

Japanese guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis: Japanese Guidelines 2015

BACKGROUND

Japanese (JPN) guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis were published in 2006. The severity assessment criteria for acute pancreatitis were later revised by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in 2008, leading to their publication as the JPN Guidelines 2010. Following the 2012 revision of the Atlanta Classifications of Acute Pancreatitis, in which the classifications of regional complications of pancreatitis were revised, the development of a minimally invasive method for local complications of pancreatitis spread, and emerging evidence was gathered and revised into the JPN Guidelines.

METHODS

A comprehensive evaluation was carried out on the evidence for epidemiology, diagnosis, severity, treatment, post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis and clinical indicators, based on the concepts of the GRADE system (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). With the graded recommendations, where the evidence was unclear, Meta-Analysis team for JPN Guidelines 2015 conducted an additional new meta-analysis, the results of which were included in the guidelines.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine questions were prepared in 17 subject areas, for which 43 recommendations were made. The 17 subject areas were: Diagnosis, Diagnostic imaging, Etiology, Severity assessment, Transfer indication, Fluid therapy, Nasogastric tube, Pain control, Antibiotics prophylaxis, Protease inhibitor, Nutritional support, Intensive care, management of Biliary Pancreatitis, management of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome, Interventions for the local complications, Post-ERCP pancreatitis and Clinical Indicator (Pancreatitis Bundles 2015). Meta-analysis was conducted in the following four subject areas based on randomized controlled trials: (1) prophylactic antibiotics use; (2) prophylactic pancreatic stent placement for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis; (3) prophylactic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis; and (4) peritoneal lavage. Using the results of the meta-analysis, recommendations were graded to create useful information. In addition, a mobile application was developed, which made it possible to diagnose, assess severity and check pancreatitis bundles.

CONCLUSIONS

The JPN Guidelines 2015 were prepared using the most up-to-date methods, and including the latest recommended medical treatments, and we are confident that this will make them easy for many clinicians to use, and will provide a useful tool in the decision-making process for the treatment of patients, and optimal medical support. The free mobile application and calculator for the JPN Guidelines 2015 is available via http://www.jshbps.jp/en/guideline/jpn-guideline2015.html.

"High-risk stigmata" of the 2012 international consensus guidelines correlate with the malignant grade of branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas

OBJECTIVES

The 2012 international consensus guidelines for the management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas stratified patients into 2 clinical categories, "high-risk stigmata" and "worrisome features," and recommended different therapeutic strategies for these groups. The aim of this study was to elucidate the significance of these categories in terms of predicting malignant IPMNs.

METHODS

The medical records of 100 consecutive patients who underwent pancreatectomy for IPMNs were retrospectively reviewed. Seventy patients with branch duct IPMNs (BD-IPMNs) were stratified into 3 groups. The relationships between the number of predictive factors and histopathologic grade were investigated.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of malignant IPMN, invasive carcinoma, and lymph node metastasis in the high-risk group were 80%, 55%, and 20%, respectively, with these percentages significantly increasing in a stepwise manner according to the number of predictive factors. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between the number of worrisome features and grade of malignancy in patients stratified as having worrisome BD-IPMNs.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of high-risk stigmata correlated significantly with the grade of malignancy of BD-IPMNs. The presence of at least 1 high-risk stigma in patients with BD-IPMNs indicates a need for pancreatectomy with lymphadenectomy.

Criteria for the diagnosis and severity stratification of acute pancreatitis

Recent diagnostic and therapeutic progress for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) remarkably decreased the case-mortality rate. To further decrease the mortality rate of SAP, it is important to precisely evaluate the severity at an early stage, and initiate appropriate treatment as early as possible. Research Committee of Intractable Diseases of the Pancreas in Japan developed simpler criteria combining routinely available data with clinical signs. Severity can be evaluated by laboratory examinations or by clinical signs, reducing the defect values of the severity factors. Moreover, the severity criteria considered laboratory/clinical severity scores and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) findings as independent risk factors. Thus, CE-CT scans are not necessarily required to evaluate the severity of acute pancreatitis. There was no fatal case in mild AP diagnosed by the CE-CT severity score, whereas case-mortality rate in those with SAP was 14.8%. Case-mortality of SAP that fulfilled both the laboratory/clinical and the CE-CT severity criteria was 30.8%. It is recommended, therefore, to perform CE-CT examination to clarify the prognosis in those patients who were diagnosed as SAP by laboratory/clinical severity criteria. Because the mortality rate of these patients with SAP is high, such patients should be transferred to advanced medical units.

Etiology of recurrent acute pancreatitis, with special emphasis on pancreaticobiliary malformation

PURPOSE

This study was aimed to investigate etiology and clinical profiles of recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP), particularly from the morphology of the pancreaticobiliary duct system.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Pancreaticobiliary morphology was examined in 230 of 381 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. We analyzed factors associated with RAP including the pancreaticobiliary duct system.

RESULTS

RAP was diagnosed in 74 patients (19%). Major etiologies of RAP were alcoholic (38%), idiopathic (26%) and pancreaticobiliary malformation (22%). Patients with alcoholic RAP were significantly younger (47.2±11.6 years) than those with gallstone RAP (67.3±16.8; p<0.05). RAP with pancreaticobiliary malformation (male-to-female ratio: 1:4.3; p<0.01) and gallstone RAP (1:1.7; p<0.05) occurred predominantly in females in comparison with alcoholic RAP (1:0.2). Recurrence rate was 80% for AP with pancreaticobiliary malformation, significantly higher than for the others (p<0.01). Pancreas divisum was suspected as the etiology of mild RAP in 7 patients. Four RAP patients with pancreas divisum underwent endoscopic minor papilla sphincterotomy and improved. Pancreaticobiliary maljunction with biliary dilatation (choledochal cyst) was suspected as the etiology of mild RAP in 3 patients. The 3 RAP patients with choledochal cyst underwent prophylactic flow diversion surgery with complete resection of the dilated common bile duct, and achieved improvement. High confluence of pancreaticobiliary ducts was suspected as the etiology of mild RAP in 6 patients.

CONCLUSION

Pancreaticobiliary malformation is one of the major causes of RAP. As some of them benefit from endoscopic or surgical treatment, morphology of the pancreaticobiliary duct system should be examined where possible in RAP patients.

Time period from onset of pain to hospital admission and patients' awareness in acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the period between onset of pain and hospital-admission (pain-to-admission time) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP), to investigate the prognostic value and associated factors of this time, and to ascertain the knowledge about the pancreas in these patients.

METHODS

An analysis of a prospective multicenter study was done, which included 188 patients with AP.

RESULTS

Median pain-to-admission time was 27 hours (interquartile range, 6.0-72.0). Median pain-to-admission time was significantly shorter in intensive care unit (ICU) patients (10 hours) compared to non-ICU patients (36 hours) (P = 0.045). Short pain-to-admission time was associated with high pain level. Median pain level (0, no pain; 10, maximal pain) was 8.0 (interquartile range, 7.0-10.0). Older age correlated with lower pain level (r = -0.26; P = 0.002). Multiple logistic regression analysis including the admission values for serum lipase and C-reactive protein and the corresponding interactions to the pain-to-admission time showed substantial discriminative ability regarding ICU admission (concordance index, 0.706; P = 0.006). 86% (112/130) knew that they have a pancreas, 72% (81/112) of these patients knew that AP exists, and 56% (45/81) recognized that AP is potentially fatal.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge about AP in hospitalized AP patients is poor. Serum lipase and C-reactive protein in dependency of the pain-to-admission time might be a suitable predictor for severity of AP.

Acute pancreatitis scoring systems

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common acute abdominal disease that can be divided into mild acute pancreatitis and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). SAP accounts for 20%-30% of all AP cases, progresses rapidly and is associated with a high mortality rate. Early identification, diagnosis and treatment of SAP are important for improving the prognosis. This article will introduce common AP scoring systems and describe the characteristics of each system.

Prognostic factors of acute cholangitis in cases managed using the Tokyo Guidelines

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

In 2007, the Tokyo Guidelines (TG07) working group established diagnostic criteria for assessment of the severity of acute cholangitis. This study aimed to analyze outcomes and identify predictors of mortality in patients with acute cholangitis managed according to the TG07.

METHODS

In this study, 215 consecutive cases of acute cholangitis were reviewed. Risk factors associated with mortality or refractory cholangitis, which is defined on the basis of prolonged hospitalization (>28 days) or disease resulting in fatality, were examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

There were 52, 133, and 30 cases of mild, moderate, and severe cholangitis, respectively. The overall mortality rate was 4.2 % (9/215). Mortality rates in patients with mild, moderate, and severe cholangitis were 0, 2.3, and 20.0 %, respectively (moderate vs. severe, p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that serum albumin levels ≤2.8 g/dl and PT-INR >1.5 were significant predictors of mortality. There were 57 patients (26.5 %) with refractory cholangitis. Multivariate analysis showed that serum albumin level ≤2.8 g/dl, PT-INR >1.5, etiology and inpatient status were significant predictors of refractory cholangitis.

CONCLUSIONS

The TG07 severity assessment criteria for acute cholangitis were significantly predictive of mortality. Hypoalbuminemia is an important risk factor in addition to organ dysfunction.

Conceptual framework for classifying the severity of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis has been known as a distinct clinical entity since the end of the 19th century, but its management is still characterised by an absence of specific treatments, despite extensive clinical and experimental research. In part this has stemmed from the limitations of the classifications for acute pancreatitis severity used so far. It may well be that the perpetual use of classifications which were solely based on empirical description of severity has retarded progress in the field due to systematic misclassification in selecting patients for clinical trials, evaluating the effects of treatment, and comparing the inter-institutional data. This article considers several important questions with regard to classifying the severity of acute pancreatitis. These relate to how the classification is best used, what determines the severity of acute pancreatitis, how determinants relate to each other and the time course of determinants. Further, the concept of causal inference is applied to classifying the severity of acute pancreatitis, and the best available evidence suggests that classification of acute pancreatitis severity should be based on local and systemic determinants. It is anticipated that the determinants-based classification of acute pancreatitis severity will underpin the ability of future research to discover a specific treatment for acute pancreatitis and make routine clinical management of patients with acute pancreatitis more tailored and evidence-based.

Diagnostic significance of a dilated orifice of the duodenal papilla in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas

BACKGROUND

A dilated orifice of the duodenal papilla found during screening endoscopy or ERCP is well-known as one of the specific findings of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). However, its clinical significance is still unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the diagnostic significance of a dilated orifice of the duodenal papilla and evaluate whether this could be a factor predictive of malignancy or a subtype of IPMN.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENTS

This study involved 149 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for IPMN between January 1987 and June 2011.

INTERVENTION

ERCP.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

The rate of malignant and intestinal type IPMNs in patients with and without papillary dilation.

RESULTS

A dilated orifice of the duodenal papilla was significantly associated with intestinal type IPMN (P < .001), but this finding could not predict the malignant grade of IPMN (P = .13). Multivariate analysis revealed that a dilated orifice was a significant factor for predicting intestinal type in both main duct (P = .01) and branch duct IPMNs (P < .001).

LIMITATIONS

The validity of the definition of papillary dilation, selection bias, and a retrospective study.

CONCLUSION

A dilated orifice of the duodenal papilla could be a significant factor for predicting intestinal type IPMN. This may lead to better clinical management of patients with IPMN.

Laparoscopic approach to acute abdomen from the Consensus Development Conference of the Società Italiana di Chirurgia Endoscopica e nuove tecnologie (SICE), Associazione Chirurghi Ospedalieri Italiani (ACOI), Società Italiana di Chirurgia (SIC), Società Italiana di Chirurgia d'Urgenza e del Trauma (SICUT), Società Italiana di Chirurgia nell'Ospedalità Privata (SICOP), and the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES)

BACKGROUND

In January 2010, the SICE (Italian Society of Endoscopic Surgery), under the auspices of the EAES, decided to revisit the clinical recommendations for the role of laparoscopy in abdominal emergencies in adults, with the primary intent being to update the 2006 EAES indications and supplement the existing guidelines on specific diseases.

METHODS

Other Italian surgical societies were invited into the Consensus to form a panel of 12 expert surgeons. In order to get a multidisciplinary panel, other stakeholders involved in abdominal emergencies were invited along with a patient's association. In November 2010, the panel met in Rome to discuss each chapter according to the Delphi method, producing key statements with a grade of recommendations followed by commentary to explain the rationale and the level of evidence behind the statements. Thereafter, the statements were presented to the Annual Congress of the EAES in June 2011.

RESULTS

A thorough literature review was necessary to assess whether the recommendations issued in 2006 are still current. In many cases new studies allowed us to better clarify some issues (such as for diverticulitis, small bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, hernias, trauma), to confirm the key role of laparoscopy (such as for cholecystitis, gynecological disorders, nonspecific abdominal pain, appendicitis), but occasionally previous strong recommendations have to be challenged after review of recent research (such as for perforated peptic ulcer).

CONCLUSIONS

Every surgeon has to develop his or her own approach, taking into account the clinical situation, her/his proficiency (and the experience of the team) with the various techniques, and the specific organizational setting in which she/he is working. This guideline has been developed bearing in mind that every surgeon could use the data reported to support her/his judgment.

Acute ischemic pancreatitis associated with acute type B aortic dissection: a case report

A 47 year-old man, presenting with sudden back pain in the absence of abdominal discomfort, was diagnosed with acute type B aortic dissection which extended to the celiac and the splenic arteries. Antihypertensive treatment was initiated. However, he subsequently complained of upper abdominal pain with increased amylase levels. Computed tomography scan (CT) revealed new accumulation of peripancreatic fluid with no signs of further aortic or visceral dissection. A protease inhibitor was administered for mild acute pancreatitis. Follow-up CT demonstrated disappearance of thrombosed false lumen of the splenic artery and reduction of the effusion. The patient was discharged without any surgical interventions.

Criteria for Referring Patients With Outpatient Gastroenterological Disease for Specialist Consultation: A Review of the Literature

Background

Demands on gastroenterology are growing, as a result of the high prevalence of digestive diseases, the impact of colon cancer screening programs and an aging population. Prioritizing referrals to gastroenterology would assist in managing wait times. Our objectives were (1) to assess whether there were consistent criteria to guide referrals from family physicians for gastroenterological outpatient consultation and (2) to determine if there were different levels of urgency or priority in referral criteria.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review, searching Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases from 1997 to 2009, using the terms referral, triage, consultation and at least one from a list of gastroenterology-specific search terms. Of 2978 initial results, 51 papers were retrieved, and 20 were retained after review by two reviewers. Additional publications were identified through hand searches of retained papers, website searches and nomination by a panel of specialists.

Results

Thirty-four papers, reports or websites were retained. No referral criteria covered the spectrum of disorders that might be referred by family physicians to gastroenterologists. Criteria for referral were most commonly listed for suspected colorectal cancer, followed by suspected upper GI cancer, hepatitis, and functional disorders.

Conclusions

A clinical panel comprised of gastroenterologists and primary care providers, informed by this literature review, are completing the work of formulating a Gastroenterology Priority Referral Score, and plan to test the reliability and validity of the tool for determining the relative urgency for referral from primary care to gastroenterology.

Early crystalloid fluid volume management in acute pancreatitis: association with mortality and organ failure

AIMS

Guidelines recommend aggressive fluid resuscitation in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) to minimize organ failure. This study aimed to determine whether early crystalloid fluid management is associated with mortality and/or critical care.

METHODS

9,489 AP patients aged ≥18 years were categorized into four study groups: ventilation, hemodialysis, a combination of ventilation and hemodialysis, and neither ventilation nor hemodialysis. We analyzed demographics, mortality, comorbidities, complications, AP severity, surgery of the biliary/pancreatic system, and fluid volume (FV) during the initial 48 h (FV48) and during hospitalization (FVH), and calculated the FV ratio (FVR) as FV48/FVH. The impact of FV48 and FVR on mortality and the care process was assessed according to AP severity.

RESULTS

1.1% of AP patients received ventilation, 1.7% received hemodialysis and 1.0% received both treatments. FV48 and FVR were higher in patients requiring ventilation compared with those not requiring ventilation. A high FV48 increased mortality and a high FVR decreased mortality in patients with severe AP. A high FV48 required ventilation in patients with severe AP, which was independently associated with mortality.

CONCLUSION

Since relatively too much or too little early FV is associated with mortality, FV should be continuously monitored and managed according to AP severity. and IAP.

Community-Based Appraisal of the Effects of Parenteral Nutrition Versus Enteral Nutrition on the Quality of Care for Patients With Acute Pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Enteral nutrition (EN) rather than parenteral nutrition (PN) has been advocated in treatment guidelines for acute pancreatitis (AP) as endorsed in randomized studies or meta-analyses. The findings derived from those studies would recognize the criticism of smaller sample sizes or limited patient case-mixes. To determine the generalizability of those findings, community-based appraisal on the advantages of EN over PN is required. Using a Japanese administrative database between 2006 and 2010, we determine whether EN is superior to PN in the real clinical settings.

METHODS

A total of 24,913 patients diagnosed with AP at admission in 1,000 hospitals were identified. Among them, we analyzed 1,803 patients of ≥ 15 years who received EN or PN for AP across 480 hospitals. Among three nutrition categories of PN only, EN only and PN with EN, we examined patient characteristics, comorbidities, complications, AP severity score determined by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, surgical procedures for the biliary/pancreatic system, use of artificially assisted ventilation and hemodialysis proxy of multiple organ failures and hospital teaching status. To identify the variables associated with PN use, a logistic regression model was used and the propensity score (PS) was calculated to control for the selection bias of patient case-mix preferring PN use. Then, we compared mortality, length of hospital stay (LOS), total charges (TC) and commencement day of oral food intake between EN and PN.

RESULTS

A total of 1,191 PN patients, 330 EN patients and 282 mixed EN and PN patients were identified. EN was indicated for patients with mild AP and procedures for the pancreas. PS matching analysis indicated that PN had a higher mortality compared with EN, and PN significantly increased LOS and TC compared with EN. PN deterred the commencement of oral food intake.

CONCLUSIONS

Community-based study has shown that EN was employed in the less severe case-mixed. Even though considering that selection bias, EN was still superior to PN in AP. Physicians should be aware of the guidelines for the advocacy of EN and need to carefully consider the indications for EN to optimize the quality of AP care.

A history of acute pancreatitis in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas is a potential predictive factor for malignant papillary subtype

BACKGROUND/AIMS

There are several reports regarding intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) detected after the occurrence of acute pancreatitis. Although the presence of symptoms is regarded as a factor for predicting malignant IPMNs, there have been few reports demonstrating whether a history of acute pancreatitis is a predictor of malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between a history of acute pancreatitis and clinicopathological features of IPMNs including the papillary subtype.

METHODS

The data of 150 IPMNs resected between 1990 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. They were classified into IPMNs with or without history of acute pancreatitis, and then the clinicopathological features were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

Nineteen (13%) of the 150 patients had a history of acute pancreatitis. Nine of them had repeated episodes of pancreatitis; however, severe pancreatitis was uncommon. The diameter of the main pancreatic duct of the pancreatitis group was significantly larger than that of the nonpancreatitis group (p = 0.04). The pancreatitis group had a significantly higher frequency of carcinoma derived from IPMNs than the nonpancreatitis group (p = 0.03). The incidence of intestinal-type IPMNs in the pancreatitis group was significantly higher than that in the nonpancreatitis group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Acute pancreatitis associated with IPMNs could predict malignant intestinal-type tumor. and IAP.

Practical guidelines for acute pancreatitis

INTRODUCTION

The following is a summary of the official guidelines of the Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas regarding the medical, endoscopic and surgical management of acute pancreatitis.

STATEMENTS

Clinical features together with elevation of the plasma concentrations of pancreatic enzymes are the cornerstones of diagnosis (recommendation A). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) provides good evidence for the presence of pancreatitis (recommendation C) and it should be carried out 48-72 h after the onset of symptoms in patients with predicted severe pancreatitis. Severity assessment is essential for the selection of the proper initial treatment in the management of acute pancreatitis (recommendation A) and should be done using the APACHE II score, serum C-reactive protein and CT assessment (recommendation C). The etiology of acute pancreatitis should be able to be determined in at least 80% of cases (recommendation B). An adequate volume of intravenous fluid should be administered promptly to correct the volume deficit and maintain basal fluid requirements (recommendation A); analgesia is crucial for the correct treatment of the disease (recommendation A). Enteral feeding is indicated in severe necrotizing pancreatitis and it is better than total parenteral nutrition (recommendation A). The use of prophylactic broad-spectrum antibiotics reduces infection rates in CT-proven necrotizing pancreatitis (recommendation A). Infected pancreatic necrosis in patients with clinical signs and symptoms of sepsis is an indication for intervention, including surgery and radiological drainage (recommendation B).

CONCLUSIONS

The participants agreed to revise the guidelines every 3 years in order to re-evaluate each question on the management of acute pancreatitis patients according to the most recent literature.

High quantity and variable quality of guidelines for acute pancreatitis: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Several clinical guidelines exist for acute pancreatitis, with varying recommendations. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of guidelines for acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

A literature search identified relevant guidelines, which were then reviewed to determine their document format and scope and the presence of endorsement by a professional body. The quality of guidelines was determined using the validated Grilli, Shaneyfelt, and AGREE instruments.

RESULTS

Twenty-one of the 30 guidelines analyzed were endorsed by professional bodies. Median quality scores were as follows: Grilli, 2; Shaneyfelt, 13; and AGREE, 50. Guideline quality did not improve over time. Guidelines endorsed by a professional body had higher scores than those without official endorsement. Guidelines with tables, a recommendations summary, evidence grading, and audit goals had significantly higher scores than guidelines lacking those features.

CONCLUSIONS

The many clinical guidelines for acute pancreatitis range widely in quality. Guidelines developed by professional bodies, and those with tables, a recommendations summary, evidence grading, and audit goals, are of higher quality. Further research is required to determine whether guideline quality alters clinical outcomes.

Analysis of clinical course of severe acute biliary and non biliary pancreatitis: a comparative study

Az akut pancreatitis viszonylag gyakran előforduló betegség. Évenként 5 és 80 közötti új megbetegedés esik 100 000 lakosra, és ez a szám az utóbbi években növekedést mutat a különböző tanulmányok szerint. A két fő etiológiai faktor az alkohol és az epekövesség. Az alkoholos eredetű hasnyálmirigy-gyulladás a férfiak körében, a biliaris pancreatitis a nők körében gyakoribb. Célkitűzés: a szerzők súlyos akut pancreatitis miatt kezelt betegek adatait elemezik, arra keresve a választ, hogy milyen eltérő sajátságokkal rendelkezik a biliaris és a más etiológiájú pancreatitis. Betegek és módszer: a szerzők 139, súlyos akut pancreatitisben szenvedő beteget kezeltek, akiket etiológiai szempontból két csoportra osztottak: az epeköves (A csoport) és a nem epeköves (B csoport) talajon kialakult súlyos hasnyálmirigy-gyulladásban szenvedők csoportjára. Összehasonlították a két csoport nem és kor szerinti sajátosságait, a mortalitási és a morbiditási adatokat, a műtétek és az ápolási napok számát. A statisztikai analízishez a χ 2 -tesztet alkalmazták. Eredmények: a szövődmények az epés (A) csoportban súlyosabbak voltak, mint a nem epés (B) csoportban. A halálozás az A csoportban 17,8%-nak, a B csoportban 13,8%-nak bizonyult, míg az átlagos 15,1% volt. A mortalitás a nők körében az A csoportban szignifikánsan magasabb volt. Következtetések: a súlyos epés akut pancreatitisben szenvedő nőbetegek esetében súlyosabb lefolyással, magasabb halálozási aránnyal kell számolnunk. A szerzők az idős, egyéb betegségekkel terhelt epeköves nőknél még a szövődmények jelentkezése előtt elektív cholecystectomiát javasolnak.

Significance of renal rim grade on computed tomography in severity evaluation of acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

Multifactor scoring systems, such as the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, are useful for predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP); however, they are rather complicated. The aim of this study was to introduce renal rim grade (RRG) as a severity assessment measure for AP.

METHODS

One hundred twenty-two eligible AP patients who underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) on admission were evaluated for RRG (grades 1-3). The end points were the severity of illness and hospital mortality. Furthermore, RRG was compared with the Balthazar score, the CT severity index, the Ranson score, and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, using a receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTS

The exacerbation rates into severe disease were 3% (grade 1), 48% (grade 2), and 89% (grade 3). The mortality rates were 3% (grade 1), 8% (grade 2), and 31% (grade 3). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves to predict the severe disease and mortality using the RRG system were comparable with other scoring systems.

CONCLUSIONS

Renal rim grade is useful for the evaluation of the severity of AP.

Treatment strategy for acute pancreatitis

When a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) is made, fundamental medical treatment consisting of fasting, intravenous (IV) fluid replacement, and analgesics with a close monitoring of vital signs should be immediately started. In parallel with fundamental medical treatment, assessment of severity based on clinical signs, blood test, urinalysis and imaging tests should be performed to determine the way of treatment for each patient. A repeat evaluation of severity is important since the condition is unstable especially in the early stage of AP. At the time of initial diagnosis, the etiology should be investigated by means of blood test, urinalysis and diagnostic imaging. If a biliary pancreatitis accompanied with acute cholangitis or biliary stasis is diagnosed or suspected, an early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with or without endoscopic sphincterotomy (ERCP/ES) is recommended in addition to the fundamental medical treatment. In mild cases, the fundamental medical treatment should be continued until clinical symptom is subsided with normal laboratory data. In cases with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) referral should be considered to medical centers experienced in the treatment of SAP, and intensive care is recommended for preventing both organ failures and infectious complications. Hemodynamic stabilization with vigorous fluid resuscitation, respiratory support and antibiotics are the major parts of intensive care in the early period of SAP. Continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) and continuous regional arterial infusion (CRAI) of protease inhibitor and/or antibiotics may be effective to improve pathophysiology of AP especially in the early stage of the disease. In the late stage of AP, infectious complications are critical. If an infectious complication is suspected based on clinical signs, blood test and imaging, a fine needle aspiration (FNA) is recommended to establish a diagnosis. The accuracy of FNA is reported to be 89 ~ 100%. For patients with sterile pancreatitis, non-surgical treatment should be indicated. For patients with infected pancreatic necrosis, therapeutic intervention either by percutaneous, endoscopic, laparoscopic or surgical approach are indicated. The most preferred surgical intervention is necrosectomy, however, non-surgical treatment with antibiotics is still the treatment of choice if the general condition is stable. Necrosectomy should be performed as late as possible. For patients with pancreatic abscess, drainage is recommended.

Long-term prognosis of acute pancreatitis in Japan

This study was undertaken to evaluate the long-term prognosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) in Japan and to identify factors that predict major complications. In 1987, 2533 patients with moderate or severe acute pancreatitis were registered in a national survey in Japan. Follow-up studies were done in 2000 and in 2004 to evaluate recurrence of acute pancreatitis, transition to chronic pancreatitis, development of diabetes mellitus, and mortality. The relationship between incidence of complications and alcohol consumption during follow-up period was also analyzed. Valid replies were obtained from 714 cases in 2000 and 450 cases in 2004. Recurrence of acute pancreatitis occurred in 145 cases, and the recurrence rate was significantly higher in alcoholic pancreatitis compared with other etiologies. A transition to chronic pancreatitis occurred frequently in alcoholic pancreatitis and inversely correlated with existence of pancreatic necrosis in the initial disease. Complication with diabetes mellitus and the transition to chronic pancreatitis strongly correlated with persistent alcohol intake during follow-up period. During the follow-up period, 199 patients died, and 43 died of malignant disease. Recurrence of acute pancreatitis and a transition to chronic pancreatitis frequently occurred in alcoholic pancreatitis. Transition to chronic pancreatitis was inversely correlated with the existence of pancreatic necrosis at the initial presentation. Mortality as a result of malignant disease was not excessive in the patients with history of acute pancreatitis.

Measurement of canine pancreatic perfusion using dynamic computed tomography: influence of input-output vessels on deconvolution and maximum slope methods

OBJECTIVE

We investigated whether the prerequisite of the maximum slope and deconvolution methods are satisfied in pancreatic perfusion CT and whether the measured parameters between these algorithms are correlated.

METHODS

We examined nine beagles injected with iohexol (200 mgI kg(-1)) at 5.0 ml s(-1). The abdominal aorta and splenic and celiac arteries were selected as the input arteries and the splenic vein, the output veins. For the maximum slope method, we determined the arterial contrast volume of each artery by measuring the area under the curve (AUC) and compared the peak enhancement time in the pancreas with the contrast appearance time in the splenic vein. For the deconvolution method, the artery-to-vein collection rate of contrast medium was calculated. We calculated the pancreatic tissue blood flow (TBF), tissue blood volume (TBV), and mean transit time (MTT) using both algorithms and investigated their correlation based on vessel selection.

RESULTS

The artery AUC significantly decreased as it neared the pancreas (P<0.01). In all cases, the peak time of the pancreas (11.5±1.6) was shorter than the appearance time (14.1±1.6) in the splenic vein. The splenic artery-vein combination exhibited the highest collection rate (91.1%) and was the only combination that was significantly correlated between TBF, TBV, and MTT in both algorithms.

CONCLUSION

Selection of a vessel nearest to the pancreas is considered as a more appropriate prerequisite. Therefore, vessel selection is important in comparison of the semi-quantitative parameters obtained by different algorithms.

Minimally invasive management of pancreatic abscess, pseudocyst, and necrosis: a systematic review of current guidelines

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive techniques have been used to manage infected pancreatic necrosis and its local complications, although there are no randomised trials to evaluate these techniques. The aims of this study were to review the scope and quality of recommendations in current clinical practice guidelines on the role of percutaneous catheter drainage and endoscopic techniques for pancreatic abscess, pseudocyst, and infected pancreatic necrosis and identify the degree of consensus between guidelines.

METHODS

A MEDLINE search was performed to identify current guidelines from any professional body published in the English language. Guidelines were analysed to determine their specific recommendations for using percutaneous catheter drainage and endoscopic techniques to manage pancreatic abscess, infected pseudocyst, and infected pancreatic necrosis.

RESULTS

Sixteen guidelines were reviewed. Percutaneous catheter drainage for pancreatic abscess was recommended by eight guidelines; for infected pseudocysts, one guideline did not recommend its use and six recommended its use; for infected necrosis, two guidelines did not recommend its use and four recommended its use. Endoscopic management of both pancreatic abscess and infected pseudocyst was recommended by seven guidelines; for infected necrosis, endoscopic management was recommended by ten guidelines. Ten guidelines did not include levels of evidence to support their recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

Guidelines lacked consensus in their recommendations for minimally invasive management of pancreatic abscess, infected pseudocyst, and infected necrosis, and few recommendations were graded according to the strength of the evidence. More prospective trials are needed to provide evidence where it is lacking, which should be incorporated into clinical practice guidelines.

Conservative approach in the management of severe acute pancreatitis: eight-year experience in a single institution

INTRODUCTION

Recognition of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), intensive care, shifting away from early surgical treatment, and monitoring of the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is important in the management of SAP. The aim of our study was retrospective evaluation and critical assessment of the experience with SAP management protocol involving new strategy in the university hospital.

METHODS

Protocols of 274 SAP patients treated in our institution during the last eight years were reassessed. APACHE II, CRP and SOFA score, IAP, pulmonary complications, ventilatory support and infection rate were evaluated. The success of the conservative treatment, surgical interventions and mortality was analysed comparing period 1 from 1999 to 2002 and period 2 from 2003 to 2006.

RESULTS

More patients with necrotising SAP were treated in period 2. The average CRP and SOFA score was higher in period 2, p=0.018; p=0.011. A total of 139 patients underwent continuous veno-venous haemofiltration (CVVH) as a component of fluid resuscitation and IAP control. Application of CVVH increased in period 2, p<0.005. Only 5-8% of patients were managed with ventilatory support. The overall infection rate decreased in period 2 comprising 21%, p<0.005. Success rate of the conservative therapy reached 69% in period 2, p<0.01. Surgical treatment was performed in 41% of patients in period 1 vs. 19% in period 2, p<0.001. Overall mortality was 19%, with a reduction to 12% in year 2006.

CONCLUSION

The conservative protocol-based approach is a rational treatment strategy for the management of SAP and can be successfully implemented in the setting of the university hospital.

Long-term outcome of severe acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

This study was undertaken to evaluate the post-discharge outcome of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and to clarify the prognostic factors for poor outcome.

METHODS

In 45 patients, recurrence of acute pancreatitis (AP), transition to chronic pancreatitis (CP), and development of diabetes mellitus (DM) were evaluated. Relationships of the outcome with the findings on admission and the presence/absence of alcohol intake were analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 56+/-6 months. Recurrence of AP was noted in 19% of the patients. The recurrence rate was higher in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis than in those without this feature. C-reactive protein and white blood cell (WBC) count were higher in patients with recurrence of AP. Transition to CP was noted in 22% of patients. The transition rate was higher in those with alcoholic SAP than in those with biliary SAP. In patients with transition to CP, the WBC count, hematocrit, Ranson score, and Japanese severity score were higher, and base excess (BE) was lower, compared with these features in patients without this transition. Development of DM was noted in 39% of patients. Blood glucose and BE were higher in patients who developed DM than in those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

The degree of inflammation and pancreatic necrosis found on admission for SAP may be related to the recurrence of AP. Alcoholic SAP in which the disease is very severe may contribute to the transition to CP. Patients with impaired glucose tolerance readily develop DM after SAP.

Serum adhesion molecules in acute pancreatitis: time course and early assessment of disease severity

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the adhesion molecule time course in the early phases of acute pancreatitis and to explore the usefulness of these proteins in assessing the severity of the disease. Fifteen consecutive acute pancreatitis patients (10 patients with the mild and 5 with the severe disease) admitted to the hospital within 6 hours after the onset of pain and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects.

METHODS

Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, E-selectin, P-selectin, and L-selectin were quantified on hospital admission and for the following 2 days.

RESULTS

Acute pancreatitis patients had vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and P-selectin concentrations significantly lower and L-selectin concentrations significantly higher than the healthy subjects. Only E-selectin was significantly higher in severe than in mild disease (P = 0.029); a value of E-selectin ranging from 3.83 to 3.92 ng/mL was the best cutoff value for differentiating severe from mild acute pancreatitis (sensitivity: 60.0%, specificity: 90.0%, cases correctly classified: 80%). E-selectin and P-selectin entered the multivariate logistic regression analysis, and a score was calculated showing a sensitivity of 93.3% and a specificity of 86.7% in identifying the patients with severe pancreatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

This score seems to be useful for the early assessment of the severity of acute pancreatitis.

Prediction of early death in severe acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

In severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), it is clinically important at the time of admission to predict the likelihood of early death. This investigation aimed to clarify the factors predicting early death in SAP.

METHODS

Early death was defined as death within 10 days after disease onset. Prediction factors for early death were evaluated from data obtained on admission from 93 patients with SAP, and the characteristics of patients who died early were analyzed.

RESULTS

Between the early-death and early-survival groups, significant factors were base excess (BE), serum creatinine (Cr), blood sugar, serum glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase, and serum calcium. Multivariate analysis revealed that BE was an independent prediction factor for early death. The early-death rate in patients with BE < -5.5 mEq/l and Cr >or= 3.0 mg/dl was 31% and 36%, respectively. The combination of BE and Cr raised the positive predictive value to 50%, and was equally able to predict early death as the Japanese Severity Score (JSS), which was the most useful of the three conventional scoring systems used. All early-death patients had pancreatic necrosis, and their JSS was >or= 15 (stage 4). Characteristically, early-death patients had lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)>1300 IU/l, or they had serious preexisting comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

As a single parameter, BE was most useful for predicting early death. The combination of BE and Cr could predict early death as well as the JSS. An extreme rise of LDH and serious preexisting comorbidity may also be risk factors for early death.