Surgical management of pancreatic necrosis: A practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2017;83:316-327. [PMID: 28452889 DOI: 10.1097/ta.0000000000001510]

A core outcome set for acute necrotizing pancreatitis: An Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma modified Delphi method consensus study

BACKGROUND

The management of acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) has changed dramatically over the past 20 years including the use of less invasive techniques, the timing of interventions, nutritional management, and antimicrobial management. This study sought to create a core outcome set (COS) to help shape future research by establishing a minimal set of essential outcomes that will facilitate future comparisons and pooling of data while minimizing reporting bias.

METHODS

A modified Delphi process was performed through involvement of ANP content experts. Each expert proposed a list of outcomes for consideration, and the panel anonymously scored the outcomes on a 9-point Likert scale. Core outcome consensus defined a priori as >70% of scores receiving 7 to 9 points and <15% of scores receiving 1 to 3 points. Feedback and aggregate data were shared between rounds with interclass correlation trends used to determine the end of the study.

RESULTS

A total of 19 experts agreed to participate in the study with 16 (84%) participating through study completion. Forty-three outcomes were initially considered with 16 reaching consensuses after four rounds of the modified Delphi process. The final COS included outcomes related to mortality, organ failure, complications, interventions/management, and social factors.

CONCLUSION

Through an iterative consensus process, content experts agreed on a COS for the management of ANP. This will help shape future research to generate data suitable for pooling and other statistical analyses that may guide clinical practice.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/Care Management; Level V.

Epidemiology, treatment and outcomes of infected pancreatic necrosis in France: a bicenter study

INTRODUCTION

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) mortality increases when pancreatic necrosis is infected (IPN). Current treatment of IPN relies on prolonged antibiotic therapies associated with a step-up strategy of drainage. The objective of this study was to analyze IPN treatment outcomes in two referral centers in France.

METHODS

Data of consecutive patients with documented IPN hospitalized in two expert centers in France between 2014 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The composite primary outcome was the proportion of unsuccessful management outcome, defined as new emergency drainage to treat sepsis with organ failure, an unplanned new antibiotic course, an unplanned prolongation of antibiotic course and/or death by septic shock, within three months following the diagnosis of ANP.

RESULTS

All in all, 187 patients (138 males; 74.0%), with documented IPN were included. The most frequently identified microorganism was Escherichia coli (26.2%). Ninety-eight patients (52.4%) were admitted to an intensive care unit or resuscitation ward within the first two days of ANP care. Overall, 126 patients (67.4%) endured an unsuccessful outcome: new emergency drainage to treat acute sepsis (62.0%), unplanned new antibiotic course (47.1%), unplanned prolongation of antibiotic course (44.9%) and/or death by septic shock complicating IPN (8.0%).

CONCLUSION

The unfavorable evolution in two thirds of patients shows that determination of optimal drainage timing and choice of antibiotic therapy remain major challenges in 2024.

Contemporary management of acute pancreatitis: What you need to know

ABSTRACT

Acute pancreatitis and management of its complications is a common consult for the acute care surgeon. With the ongoing development of both operative and endoscopic treatment modalities, management recommendations continue to evolve. We describe the current diagnostic and treatment guidelines for acute pancreatitis through the lens of acute care surgery. Topics, including optimal nutrition, timing of cholecystectomy in gallstone pancreatitis, and the management of peripancreatic fluid collections, are discussed. Although the management severe acute pancreatitis can include advanced interventional modalities including endoscopic, percutaneous, and surgical debridement, the initial management of acute pancreatitis includes fluid resuscitation, early enteral nutrition, and close monitoring with consideration of cross-sectional imaging and antibiotics in the setting of suspected superimposed infection. Several scoring systems including the Revised Atlanta Criteria, the Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis score, and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade have been devised to classify and predict the development of the severe acute pancreatitis. In biliary pancreatitis, cholecystectomy prior to discharge is recommended in mild disease and within 8 weeks of necrotizing pancreatitis, while early peripancreatic fluid collections should be managed without intervention. Underlying infection or ongoing symptoms warrant delayed intervention with technique selection dependent on local expertise, anatomic location of the fluid collection, and the specific clinical scenario. Landmark trials have shifted therapy from maximally invasive necrosectomy to more minimally invasive step-up approaches. The acute care surgeon should maintain a skill set that includes these minimally invasive techniques to successfully manage these patients. Overall, the management of acute pancreatitis for the acute care surgeon requires a strong understanding of both the clinical decisions and the options for intervention should this be necessary.

Open or Not Open the Retroperitoneum: A Pandora's Box for Blunt High-Grade Pancreatic Trauma?

INTRODUCTION

The optimal management strategy for pancreatic trauma remains unclear. We aimed to determine whether the initial nonoperative management (NOM) strategy based on percutaneous drainage combined with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography guided stent placement would improve outcomes for blunt high-grade pancreatic trauma.

METHODS

Patients with blunt abdominal trauma who were hemodynamically stable without signs of diffuse peritonitis were consecutively enrolled at a high-volume center. The primary outcome was the occurrence of severe complications (Clavien‒Dindo classification ≥ Ⅲb) for patients who underwent initial laparotomy (LAP) versus NOM. Modified Poisson regression was used to model the primary outcome. Propensity score matching and weighting models were included into a regression-based sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

Of 119 patients with grade III/IV pancreatic trauma, 29 patients underwent initial NOM, and 90 underwent initial LAP. The incidence of severe complications in the LAP group was higher than that in the NOM group (65/90 [72.2%] versus 9/29 [31.0%], P < 0.001). In the multivariable modified Poisson regression model, the relative risk for severe complications was decreased in the NOM group (relative risk, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.90; P = 0.020). The results of the sensitivity analysis were consistent with those of the multivariable analysis. The mean number of reinterventions per patient was 1.8 in the NOM group and 2.6 in the LAP group (P = 0.067).

CONCLUSIONS

For blunt high-grade pancreatic trauma patients with stable hemodynamics and no diffuse peritonitis, the NOM strategy was associated with a lower risk of severe complications (Clavien‒Dindo classification ≥ Ⅲb) and did not require more invasive reintervention procedures. In high-volume centers with sufficient expertise, percutaneous drainage combined with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography guided stent placement may serve as an initial reasonable option for selected patients.

Endoscopic transpapillary stent placement in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis and disconnected main pancreatic duct syndrome

Introduction

Pancreatic necrosis is one of the most severe acute abdominal conditions, accounting for 15%-20% of all patients with acute pancreatitis and characterized by significant rates of postoperative complications and mortality. Patients with pancreatic necrosis, in which pathological changes are localized in the proximal pancreas and retroperitoneal space, deserve special attention. This form of the disease includes patients with disconnected main pancreatic duct (MPD) syndrome who have a difficult prognosis.

Aim

The aim of the study was an improvement of treatment results in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis and signs of the dissociation of the pancreas duct system using the endoscopic transpapillary stent placement method.

Material and methods

This study was a retrospective cohort study. There were 32 patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis who were managed using the endoscopic transpapillary stent placement method between 2019 and 2021. Disconnected MPD syndrome was diagnosed in all 32 patients. In total, 26 patients were admitted to hospital in the first 72 h, while 6 patients were admitted after 72 h. We diagnosed the necrotizing process located in the proximal and central areas of the pancreas and peripancreatic space in all these patients ("model III").

Results

Positive results related to transpapillary stent placement were noted in 24 (75%) patients (first cohort). A total of 20 patients from this group were admitted to hospital in the first 48 h, and 4 patients were admitted later than 72 h from the onset of disease. Moreover, 8 patients (25%; second cohort) failed to succeed in transpapillary stent placement. Complications in the first cohort occurred in 3 (12.5%) patients: dislocation of the stent into the duodenum occurred in 1 patient, and bleeding after papillosphincterotomy took place in 2 patients. Meanwhile, infected necrotized pancreatitis developed in 5 patients, and 1 patient (5%) died. Complications among the second cohort occurred in 2 (25%) patients: erosive bleeding (after debridement). Infected necrotized pancreatitis developed in 4 patients, and 2 patients (25%) died.

Conclusions

Endoscopic transpapillary stent placement is an effective minimally invasive approach in the management of patients with necrotizing pancreatitis.

Role of the SARS‑COV2 infection in the evolution of acute pancreatitis (Review)

Acute pancreatitis is characterized as an inflammatory illness that is life-threatening and causes necrosis as well as simple edema when pancreatic enzymes are activated intraglandularly. It is not known whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes acute pancreatitis. Patients with acute pancreatitis who test positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) frequently have biliary or alcoholic causes. It is unclear how common acute pancreatitis is in patients with COVID-19. By contrast with patients without COVID-19, however, COVID-19-positive patients with acute pancreatitis have a higher mortality as well as a higher risk of necrosis and admission to an intensive care unit. The most common cause of mortality in COVID-19-positive individuals with concurrent severe pancreatitis is acute respiratory distress syndrome. The present study discussed research on the link between COVID-19 infection and acute pancreatitis.

[Influence of early surgery and endoscopic interventions on the risk of infection in patients with pancreatic necrosis]

OBJECTIVE

To prevent purulent-septic complications in patients with destructive pancreatitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cohort study included 488 patients with pancreatic necrosis: group 1 (n=331) - active surgical strategy, group 2 (n=157) - follow-up and therapy. We used binary logistic regression to predict purulent-septic complications.

RESULTS

Original model of independent variables significantly (p<0.001) revealed 5.3 times higher risk of infectious complications after laparotomy within the first week after hospitalization. Incidence of these events increased by 2.8 times in patients biliary pancreatitis compared to alcohol-alimentary pancreatitis. Complication rate was higher in older patients (by 2.1% for each year). Risk of purulent-septic complications decreased by 57.4% in women compared to men. There was no significant correlation between risk of infectious complications and endoscopic procedures. Specificity and sensitivity of the model was 74.2 and 72.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Original model significantly predicts the risk of purulent-septic complications within the first week after hospitalization. Refusal of early active surgical strategy in these patients will significantly reduce the likelihood of purulent-septic complications.

Evidence-Based Approach to the Surgical Management of Acute Pancreatitis

Background  Acute pancreatitis is a significant challenge to health services. Remarkable progress has been made in the last decade in optimizing its management.

Methods  This review is a comprehensive assessment of 7 guidelines employed in current clinical practice with an appraisal of the underlying evidence, including 15 meta-analyses/systematic reviews, 16 randomized controlled trials, and 31 cohort studies.

Results  Key tenets of early management of acute pancreatitis include severity stratification based on the degree of organ failure and early goal-directed fluid resuscitation. Rigorous determination of etiology reduces the risk of recurrence. Early enteral nutrition and consideration of epidural analgesia have been pioneered in recent years with promising results. Indications for invasive intervention are becoming increasingly refined. The definitive indications for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in acute pancreatitis are associated with cholangitis and common bile duct obstruction. The role of open surgical necrosectomy has diminished with the development of a minimally invasive step-up necrosectomy protocol. Increasing use of endoscopic ultrasound–guided intervention in the management of pancreatic necrosis has helped reduce pancreatic fistula rates and hospital stay.

Conclusion  The optimal approach to surgical management of complicated pancreatitis depends on patient physiology and disease anatomy, in addition to the available resources and expertise. This is best achieved with a multidisciplinary approach. This review provides a distillation of the recommendations of clinical guidelines and critical discussion of the evidence that informs them and presents an algorithmic approach to key areas of patient management.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis

The pancreas is a glandular organ that is responsible for the proper functioning of the digestive and endocrine systems, and therefore, it affects the condition of the entire body. Consequently, it is important to effectively diagnose and treat diseases of this organ. According to clinicians, pancreatitis—a common disease affecting the pancreas—is one of the most complicated and demanding diseases of the abdomen. The classification of pancreatitis is based on clinical, morphologic, and histologic criteria. Medical doctors distinguish, inter alia, acute pancreatitis (AP), the most common causes of which are gallstone migration and alcohol abuse. Effective diagnostic methods and the correct assessment of the severity of acute pancreatitis determine the selection of an appropriate treatment strategy and the prediction of the clinical course of the disease, thus preventing life-threatening complications and organ dysfunction or failure. This review collects and organizes recommendations and guidelines for the management of patients suffering from acute pancreatitis.

[Endoscopic transluminal drainage for infected pancreatic necrosis]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of intraluminal drainage of acute fluid accumulations for infected pancreatic necrosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 848 patients with acute pancreatitis between January 2018 and December 2020 at the Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Care. Necrotizing pancreatitis was detected in 232 (27.4%) patients. Among necrotic forms, pancreatic parenchymal necrosis was detected in 56 (24.1%) patients, its combination with peripancreatic necrosis - in 176 (75.9%) patients. All patients underwent transabdominal ultrasound, CT of the abdomen and retroperitoneal space, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, endo-ultrasonography of pancreatobiliary zone. Dimensions and localization of acute necrotic accumulations were established using ultrasound and CT data. Endoscopic transluminal drainage was performed in 22 patients with necrotizing pancreatitis and fluid accumulations attached to the stomach or duodenum. There were 12 men (55%) and 10 women (45%) aged 48.5 [39; 56] (35; 88) years. Effectiveness of endoscopic treatment was assessed considering clinical, endoscopic data and reduction of fluid accumulations confirmed by ultrasound and CT data.

RESULTS

Among 22 patients, connection with pancreatic ductal system was detected in 3 patients (13.6%) that required pancreaticoduodenal stenting. Early postoperative period was complicated by bleeding from the area of pancreatogenic destruction in 4 patients (18.1%). Therefore, angiography and endovascular embolization of a. gastroduodenalis were required in 2 (9.1%) cases. In 1 (4.5%) case, we performed endoscopic hemostasis using Hemoblock hemostatic solution (4 ml). Combination of both methods was used in 1 (4.5%) patient. In 11 (50%) patients, endoscopic drainage was the final method of surgical treatment of necrotizing pancreatitis. Four patients (18.1%) died. Multiple organ failure caused mortality in 3 patients (13.6%). One (4.5%) patient died from severe nosocomial pneumonia developed in 32 days after drainage. Spurs not drained into the stomach with US-confirmed suspension and sequestration were observed in 11 (50%) out of 22 patients. These accumulations required additional ultrasound-assisted percutaneous drainage.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic transluminal drainage is a perspective minimally invasive method for necrotizing pancreatitis.

Intraluminal endoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of fluid collections in acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

To improve treatment outcomes in patients with acute pancreatitis through a differentiated approach to transluminal drainage.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 1074 patients with acute pancreatitis between January 2018 and December 2021 at the Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Care. EUS was used as a final diagnostic method to determine localization, dimensions, shape and contours of fluid collections. We also assessed content, presence or absence of a capsule and connection with pancreatic ductal system, possibility of intraluminal drainage under EUS control. A plastic stent with rounded ends was installed if homogeneous hypo- and anechoic cavity with clear even contours was detected. The same measure was applied in case of aspiration of serous or serous-hemorrhagic fluid. The indication for installation of covered self-expanding endoprosthesis was inhomogeneous anechoic fluid collection with hyperechoic inclusions (sequesters) and cloudy purulent content. Patients with necrotic forms underwent insertion of a cystonasal drainage tube 7Fr for sanitation of the cavity with 0.05% aqueous chlorhexidine solution. Endoscopic sequestrectomy was performed every 24-48 hours. Stent was removed in 6 (for encapsulated peripancreatic fluid collections) or 1 month (for other types of fluid collections) after discharge.

RESULTS

According to the EUS data, endoscopic TLD was performed in 63 (46%) out of 136 patients with fluid collections. Among 63 patients with TLD, connection with pancreatic ductal system was found in 5 (7.9%) patients. These ones underwent pancreaticoduodenal stenting. Twenty-two patients underwent elective sequestrectomy after stenting of necrotic types of fluid collections with fully covered self-expanding stents. Additional percutaneous drainage was required in 11 (45.8%) of 24 patients. Complicated postoperative period was observed in 4 (6.3%) patients with acute necrotic fluid collections (bleeding from the area of pancreatogenic destruction). Four (6.3%) patients died. Autopsy revealed resolution of purulent-inflammatory process in all patients.

CONCLUSION

Intraluminal surgery is possible not only for homogeneous delimited fluid collections, but also for advanced lesions including infected destructions. This approach allows us to consider endoscopic intraluminal drainage as the final minimally invasive method of surgical treatment of pancreatic necrosis. Its effectiveness is up to 45.8%.

Post-Discharge Outcomes After Pancreatic Necrosectomy: A Single Institution Experience Following Endoscopic vs Open Debridement

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic necrosectomy outcomes have been studied extensively; however, long-term results of these procedures have not been well characterized. Our study aimed to assess the outcomes at and after discharge for patients following necrosectomy.

METHODS

Data from patients undergoing pancreatic necrosectomy at a single tertiary referral hospital from January 1, 2007, to June 1, 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified into an open pancreatic necrosectomy (OPN) and an endoscopic pancreatic necrosectomy (EPN) group.

RESULTS

Cohorts were composed of an OPN (n = 30) and EPN (n = 31) groups with a mean follow-up of 22 and 13.5 months, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the demographics or etiology of disease; however, the presence of severe sepsis and elevated BISAP scores was significantly higher in the OPN group (40% vs 13% p = .016, 37% vs 10% p = .012, respectively). There was no significant difference in discharge parameters or disposition other than a higher need for wound care in the OPN group (14% vs 0% p =< .0001). No significant difference in the number of patients who returned to baseline, 12-month ED visits, 12-month readmissions, medical comorbidities, or long-term survival was noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous studies have demonstrated that OPN patients have a higher severity of disease and higher inpatient mortality; however, this does not hold true once the acute phase of the illness has passed. Long-term medical comorbidities and survival of patients with necrotizing pancreatitis who endure the primary insult do not differ in long term, regardless of the debridement modality performed for source control.

Consensus and controversy among severe pancreatitis surgery guidelines: a guideline evaluation based on the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool

The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate guidelines for surgery in patients with severe pancreatitis and to identify gaps limiting evidence-based medicine practice. A systematic search of databases and related websites was conducted to identify surgical guidelines for patients with severe pancreatitis. The quality of the included guidelines was assessed using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool. The similarities among key recommendations were compared, and the evidence supporting them was extracted and analysed. Seven surgical guidelines for patients with severe pancreatitis were included. Only two guidelines, those of the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) and the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE), scored more than 60% for overall quality and were worthy of clinical recommendation. We found that the quality of the severe acute pancreatitis surgical guidelines have much room for improvement, especially in the field of application, the participation of stakeholders and editorial independence. The heterogeneity and causes of surgical recommendations were further analysed, and the latest evidence was retrieved. It was found that the surgical guidelines for severe pancreatitis lacked high-quality evidence, some of the recommendations were controversial, and evidence citation was unreasonable. The quality of surgical guidelines for patients with severe pancreatitis varies widely. In the past 5 years, the key recommendations of the surgical guidelines for severe pancreatitis have been somewhat consistent and controversial, and improvement in these existing problems and controversies will be an effective way for developers to upgrade the surgical guidelines for severe pancreatitis.

Necrotizing pancreatitis: A review for the acute care surgeon

BACKGROUND

Necrotizing pancreatitis is a common condition with high mortality; the acute care surgeon is frequently consulted for management recommendations. Furthermore, there has been substantial change in the timing, approach, and frequency of surgical intervention for this group of patients.

METHODS

In this article we summarize key clinical and research developments regarding necrotizing pancreatitis, including current recommendations for treatment of patients requiring intensive care and those with common complications. Articles from all years were considered to provide proper historical context, and most recent management recommendations are identified.

RESULTS

Epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment in the acute phase, and complications (both short-term and long-term) are discussed. Images of surgical interventions are included from our institutional experience.

CONCLUSION

Necrotizing pancreatitis management remains heavily based on clinical judgement, although technological advances and clinical trials have made decision making more straightforward.

Outcomes of Endoscopic and Surgical Pancreatic Necrosectomy: A Single Institution Experience

Pancreatic necrosis can be managed conservatively; however, infection of pancreatic necrosis usually dictates more aggressive management. Our study aimed to assess the outcomes of open pancreatic necrosectomy (OPN) and endoscopic pancreatic necrosectomy (EPN) in a single center. Data from patients undergoing pancreatic necrosectomy at the Geisinger Medical Center from January 1, 2007, to April 25, 2016, were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Cohorts were composed of EPN (n = 22) and OPN (n = 34) groups. The prevalence of preoperative respiratory failure, septic shock, and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome was higher in the OPN group. The OPN group presented with a higher Bedside Index Severity in Acute Pancreatitis score. Postoperative abscess, persistent kidney dysfunction, and death were more frequent in the OPN group. The EPN group had a higher read-mission rate. The results of the univariate analysis for complication and mortality demonstrated that higher mortality and persistent kidney dysfunction were associated with the procedure type, specifically OPN and with a higher Bedside Index Severity in Acute Pancreatitis score. Patients who presented with higher severity of disease underwent an OPN, whereas EPN often was performed successfully in a more benign clinical setting. However, patients with infected necrosis are served best in a tertiary medical facility where multiple treatment modalities are available.

Classification of Infected Necrotizing Pancreatitis for Surgery Within or Beyond 4 Weeks Using Machine Learning

Background: The timing of surgery for necrotizing pancreatitis remains a matter of controversial debate, which has not been resolved by randomized controlled trial (RCT). This study aims to classify surgical timing within or beyond 4 weeks for patients with infected necrotizing pancreatitis by using machine learning methods. Methods: This study analyzed 223 patients who underwent surgery for infected pancreatic necrosis at West China Hospital of Sichuan University. We used logistic regression, support vector machine, and random forest with/without the simulation of generative adversarial networks to classify the surgical intervention within or beyond 4 weeks in the patients with infected necrotizing pancreatitis. Results: Our analyses showed that interleukin 6, infected necrosis, the onset of fever and C-reactive protein were important factors in determining the timing of surgical intervention (< 4 or ≥ 4 weeks) for the patients with infected necrotizing pancreatitis. The main factors associated with postoperative mortality in patients who underwent early surgery (< 4 weeks) included modified Marshall score on admission and preoperational modified Marshall score. Preoperational modified Marshall score, time of surgery, duration of organ failure and onset of renal failure were important predictive factors for the postoperative mortality of patients who underwent delayed surgery (≥ 4 weeks). Conclusions: Machine learning models can be used to predict timing of surgical intervention effectively and key factors associated with surgical timing and postoperative survival are identified for infected necrotizing pancreatitis.

Assessment of prophylactic antibiotics administration for acute pancreatitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Recent evidence has shown that prophylactic antibiotic treatment in patients with acute pancreatitis is not associated with a significant decrease in mortality or morbidity. The use and efficacy of prophylactic antibiotic treatment in acute pancreatitis remain controversial. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess whether antibiotic prophylaxis is beneficial in patients with acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of prophylactic use of antibiotics using Medline (PubMed), Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3 software. We performed pooled analyses for infected pancreatic necrosis, mortality, surgical intervention, and non-pancreatic infection. Odds ratios (ORs) from each trial were pooled using a random or fixed effects model, depending on the heterogeneity of the included studies. Sub-group analysis or sensitivity analysis was conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity, when necessary.

RESULTS

Totally, 11 RCTs involving 747 participants were included, with an intervention group (prophylactic use of antibiotics, n = 376) and control group (n = 371). No significant differences were found regarding antibiotic prophylaxis with respect to incidence of infected pancreatic necrosis (OR, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50-1.09; P = 0.13), surgical intervention (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.62-1.38; P = 0.70), and morality (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.44-1.15; P = 0.16). However, antibiotic prophylaxis was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of non-pancreatic infection (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.42-0.84; P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylactic antibiotics can reduce the incidence of non-pancreatic infection in patients with AP.

Together We Stand, Divided We Fall: A Multidisciplinary Approach in Complicated Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory condition with a mild course in most patients, but 20-30% evolve to single or multiple organ dysfunction and pancreatic/peripancreatic necrosis, with potentially infected collections. In the first weeks of disease, a systemic inflammatory syndrome (SIRS) dominates the clinical setting, and early management decisions in this precocious phase can change the course of the disease. Imaging is crucial in the diagnosis, and since the adoption of the revised Atlanta classification, four different types of pancreatic/peripancreatic collections have been defined. The management of the complicated forms of AP has been defined by several treatment guidelines, and the main indication for intervention is local infection, preferably in walled-off necrosis. Open surgery necrosectomy is associated with a very high rate of morbimortality, giving a place to different multidisciplinary methodologies, emphasizing drainage and necrosectomy techniques in a "step-up" approach starting from mini-invasive endoscopic drainage and moving, if needed, to progressively more invasive techniques, including interventional radiology and mini-invasive surgery. With the advent of several new technologies in the specialties involved, the complicated AP cases which need drainage and necrosectomy benefit from a new era of multidisciplinary cooperation, permitting higher efficacy with lower levels of morbimortality and reducing hospital stay and costs.

2019 WSES guidelines for the management of severe acute pancreatitis

Although most patients with acute pancreatitis have the mild form of the disease, about 20-30% develops a severe form, often associated with single or multiple organ dysfunction requiring intensive care. Identifying the severe form early is one of the major challenges in managing severe acute pancreatitis. Infection of the pancreatic and peripancreatic necrosis occurs in about 20-40% of patients with severe acute pancreatitis, and is associated with worsening organ dysfunctions. While most patients with sterile necrosis can be managed nonoperatively, patients with infected necrosis usually require an intervention that can be percutaneous, endoscopic, or open surgical. These guidelines present evidence-based international consensus statements on the management of severe acute pancreatitis from collaboration of a panel of experts meeting during the World Congress of Emergency Surgery in June 27-30, 2018 in Bertinoro, Italy. The main topics of these guidelines fall under the following topics: Diagnosis, Antibiotic treatment, Management in the Intensive Care Unit, Surgical and operative management, and Open abdomen.

Step-up approach for the management of pancreatic necrosis: a review of the literature

Infected necrotizing pancreatitis is a challenging condition to treat because of the profound inflammatory response these patients undergo which can then be exacerbated by interventions. Treatment of this condition has evolved in timing of intervention as well as method of intervention and includes less invasive options for treatment such as percutaneous drainage and endoscopic drainage, in addition to less invasive endoscopic and video-assisted or laparoscopic debridements. The precise optimal treatment strategy for these patients is an ongoing topic of discussion and may be different for each patient as this is a heterogenous condition.

Pancreatic necrosis: Complications and changing trend of treatment

Incidence of acute pancreatitis seems to be increasing in the Western countries and has been associated with significantly increased morbidity. Nearly 80% of the patients with acute pancreatitis undergo resolution; some develop complications including pancreatic necrosis. Infection of pancreatic necrosis is the leading cause of death in these patients. A significant portion of these patients needs surgical interventions. Traditionally, the “gold standard” procedure has been the open surgical necrosectomy, which is now being completed by the relatively lesser invasive interventions. Minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures include endoscopic drainage, percutaneous image-guided catheter drainage, and retroperitoneal drainage. This review article discusses the open and MIS interventions for pancreatic necrosis with each having its own respective benefits and disadvantages are covered.

Endoscopic Transgastric Versus Surgical Approach for Infected Necrotizing Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Surgical approach (SA) is the standard treatment for infected necrotizing pancreatitis (INP) and endoscopic transgastric approach (ETA) is a promising alternative treatment. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of ETA versus SA in INP. Several databases were systematically searched for eligible studies that compared ETA with SA for INP. Predefined criteria were used for study selection. Three reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias. Primary outcomes included clinical resolution rate, short-term mortality, major complications, and hospital stay. Study-specific effect sizes and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were combined to calculate the pooled value using fixed-effects or random-effects model. Six studies were included with 295 patients. Major complication rate [odds ratio (OR), 0.13; 95% CI, 0.06-0.29], new-onset organ failure rate (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.12-0.54), postoperative pancreatic fistula rate (OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.03-0.28), and incisional hernia rate (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01-0.85) were lower in the ETA group. There was a shorter hospital stay (mean difference, -17.72; 95% CI, -21.30 to -14.13) in the ETA group. No differences were found in clinical resolution, short-term mortality, postoperative bleeding, perforation of visceral organ, and endocrine or exocrine insufficiency. Compared with SA, ETA showed comparable effectiveness and safety for the treatment of INP based on current evidence.