What ıs the course of secondary pancreatıtıs ın pedıatrıc ıntensıve care unıt?

Abstract

Purpose: Acute pancreatitis is diagnosed frequently in the pediatric population. Course of acute pancreatitis in children is usually mild. However, severe pancreatitis may develop in some patients with the local or systemic complications. Course of secondary acute pancreatitis in children in the pediatric intensive care unit is unknown. Aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcome of children who developed secondary acute pancreatitis in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit. Material and methods: Children hospitalized in pediatric intensive care unit for different causes and developed secondary acute pancreatitis were included into this retrospective study. Demographic features of the patients, duration of hospitalization in intensive care unit, primary disease causing hospitalization, other underlying diseases, duration of mechanical ventilation, pediatric mortality risk score III and nutritional status were conducted from hospital records. Results: Seventy-seven children (58.4%male and mean age: 6.7 years) were included in the study. The most common underlying disease was neurological diseases (19.5%). Majority (46.7%) of the secondary pancreatitis was severe. 68.8% of the children with secondary pancreatitis were on mechanical ventilation. Duration of hospitalization and time on mechanical ventilator was significantly longer in patients with severe pancreatitis. The mean pediatric mortality risk III score was also significantly higher in this group. Conclusion: Although acute pancreatitis in children has a mild course, secondary acute pancreatitis is often severe and has a high mortality rate in children in the pediatric intensive care unit.