731 Acute Pancreatitis: The Experience of a District General Hospital Following the Introduction of a New Care Pathway

Abstract

Abstract Aim Acute pancreatitis is a common surgical condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Outcomes depend on establishing disease severity, identifying complications and prompt initiation of management. Despite the recognised complications and mortality, the management of acute pancreatitis is often found to be highly variable. This study aimed to examine the effect of a new care pathway on the documentation and management of patients admitted with acute pancreatitis at a district general hospital (DGH). Method This clinical audit measured the compliance of a general surgical department at a DGH with NICE (National Institute of Care and Health Excellence) and IAP (International Association of Pancreatology) guidelines. Through a retrospective case note review, documentation and management were assessed for patients admitted with acute pancreatitis over two four-month periods before and after the introduction of a new care pathway. Results Following the introduction of the care pathway, we observed that compliance with guidelines improved across all measured outcomes including admission documentation, the use of diagnostic imaging, nutritional recommendations, and the use of the Modified Glasgow score to predict severe pancreatitis. Conclusions Based on these findings, we advocate for the use of a comprehensive care pathway, such as the one introduced in this audit, to standardise the documentation and management of patients admitted with acute pancreatitis and improve compliance with NICE and IAP guidelines.