Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis Research Articles

Does the site, size, and number of necrotic collections affect the outcome of necrotizing pancreatitis? - a prospective analysis.

In patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP), the site, size, and the number of acute necrotic collections (ANC) may determine the outcome of patients. The current study aimed to correlate the nature of ANC with the adverse outcomes in ANP patients. This was a single-center, prospective study (August 2019-August 2022) recruiting patients with ANP, correlating the site, size, and number of ANC with the length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) stays, development of organ failure and infection, need for intervention, and mortality. A total of 114 patients (mean age: 37.3 ± 13.4 years, 85.1% males) with ANP were included in the study. The number and maximum diameter of collections significantly correlated with the length of the hospital and ICU stay and the need for intervention. Taking a cut-off size of 8cm, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting the need for intervention were 82.7% and 74.2%, respectively. ANCs located in the perinephric, paracolic, subhepatic, and epigastric regions had a significant correlation with two or more adverse outcomes. Additional points were added to the modified CT severity index (mCTSI) based on the present study's findings. The new score had significantly higher AUROC than mCTSI for predicting infection, need for intervention, ICU stay > 1 week, and mortality. The site, size, and number of EPNs have a significant correlation with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with ANP. The inclusion of these parameters, along with present scoring systems, will help further improve the prognostication of patients.

Natural History and Microbiological Profiles of Patients With Acute Pancreatitis With Suspected Infected Pancreatic Necrosis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a prevalent emergency. The clinical spectrum of the condition is varied, ranging from a mild to a malignant course with higher mortality rates. Infection of pancreatic/peri necrosis, extrapancreatic infections, and organ failure are significant complications in AP. In the recent era, microbiological composition has shifted more towards multi-drug-resistant organisms due to irrational antibiotic use. This study aims to understand the natural history of patients with suspected infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN), the prevalence of multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. This prospective, observational study was performed on 130 cases of acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) with suspected IPN that were evaluated during their period of admission in the department of gastroenterology, emergency medicine, or surgery ward of thePostgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, a tertiary hospital. The details of outcomes were recorded. The organisms in cases with IPN and antibiotic resistance patterns of various organisms were studied. The most prevalent site of necrosis was combined pancreatic and peripancreatic tissues in 111 (85.4%) patients. The computed tomography severity index (CTSI) had a mean of 8.72±1.43. Of all participants, 36 (27.7%) patients had <30% necrosis, 47 (36.2%) had 30%-50% necrosis, and 47 (36.2%) had >50% necrosis. Overall, 80 (61.5%) patients had organ failure, with acute lung injury (ALI) being the most common. Rates of complications were markedly greater in cases with higher pancreatic necrosis and with infected necrosis (p<0.05). The most common organism isolated from necrotic tissue was Escherichia coli (E. coli) in 17 (32.07%) cases, followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) in 12 (22.64%) cases. The most common extrapancreatic infection site was respiratory tract infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and A. baumannii revealed maximum resistance to most of the drugs. Conclusion: Infected pancreatic necrosis is linked to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Our study suggests that irrational usage of antibiotics increases the incidence of combined infection, especially with higher rates of multi-drug-resistant infections.

When to Intervene in Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis: A Narrative Review of the Optimal Timing for Intervention Strategies.

Introduction: Acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) is the acute inflammation of pancreatic parenchyma, most commonly due to alcohol abuse or cholelithiasis. The treatment can be either conservative or invasive, including a variety of techniques; however, it has not yet been established if the intervention should be early or if it should be delayed. The aim of this review is to investigate the optimal time for intervention in ANP. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus from inception until September 2024 for studies reporting the comparison between early and late intervention. Results: Early intervention, within 4 weeks of symptom onset, often involves drainage via percutaneous, endoscopic, or combined methods. Delayed intervention occurs after 4 weeks of symptom onset. This can be conducted either surgically or via minimally invasive means. The results of this review reveal that the time of intervention for ANP plays an important role in the prognosis and the course of the disease. In particular, early intervention is associated with higher mortality, which is also the primary clinical outcome. Delayed intervention is also superior regarding secondary clinical outcomes, specifically the complications associated with the intervention. Thus, it is accompanied by fewer episodes of new-onset organ failure, bleeding, gastrointestinal fistula, pancreatic fistula, wound infection, endocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and other complications. Finally, delayed intervention results in shorter stays, both in hospitals and the ICU. Conclusions: Delayed intervention is clearly more effective than early intervention and should be preferred. However, early intervention appears to be both safe and effective, and it is feasible.

Rare complications of acute pancreatitis: Clinical cases

Background. Acute pancreatitis is recognized as a common disease, occasionally accompanied by the development of local complications that require surgical debridement. Rare complications of pancreatitis may occur in clinical practice, which is one of the reasons for their untimely diagnosis and treatment. Pancreaticopleural fistula and high small bowel obstruction develop in less than 1% of acute pancreatitis cases. Therefore, possible options for management of these complications are considered valuable. Description of clinical cases. The clinical examples, provided in the present paper, describe pancreaticopleural fistula and high small bowel obstruction that develop against the peripancreatic mass in the abdominal cavity. Patient K., 44, was hospitalized to the Regional Clinical Hospital of Emergency Medical Care, Krasnodar Krai, and preliminary diagnosed with bilateral hydrothorax and type II respiratory failure; pleural puncture was performed. Following the extended examination, a clinical diagnosis was made as follows: “Acute necrotic pancreatitis spreading to a pancreatic tail cyst. Reactive double pleurisy”. The postoperative period was indicated with repeated recurrence of right hydrothorax, and pancreaticopleural fistula (diagnosed by measuring amylase activity in the brown fluid effused from the right pleural cavity, which appeared to be 41216 IU/l (not normally determined)). The right pleural cavity and pseudocyst of the pancreatic tail were drained, resulting in obliteration of the pancreatbcopleural fistula. Patient V., 50, was hospitalized and transferred to the surgical department of the Regional Clinical Hospital No. 2, Krasnodar Krai, and diagnosed with “pancreonecrosis, extensive purulent-necrotic peripancreatitis.” The patient underwent puncture-drainage treatment. The postoperative period was complicated by acute small bowel obstruction. Surgical treatment involved Braun enteroesterostomy. The patient recovered. Conclusion. Pancreaticopleural fistula refers to a rare complication of acute pancreatitis, manifested by hydrothorax. Its diagnosis is based on the determination of amylase activity in the effusion. Drainage of the pleural cavity and pancreatic pseudocyst contributes to obliteration of the fistula. The intestinal obstruction, another complication of pancreatitis, requires open surgical treatment when a conservative therapy appears ineffective.

Visceral adipose tissue area predicts major adverse kidney events in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis

BackgroundGiven the previously reported harmful effects of abdominal fat burden on kidney function, we aim to investigate the relationship between major adverse kidney events within 30 days (MAKE30) and abdominal obesity in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) patients and explore the underlying risk factors. MethodsA retrospective cohort study of all patients admitted within 72 h after the first episode of ANP to a tertiary center between June 2015 and June 2019 was conducted. Automatic image analysis software was used to calculate the area of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and skeletal muscle from computed tomography scans at the umbilical level. The potential risk factors of MAKE30 were analyzed by logistic regression. ResultsA total of 208 eligible ANP patients were enrolled, with an incidence of 23 % for MAKE30. VAT area was more closely associated with the development of MAKE30, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.69 (cutoff value 200 cm2, 63.8 % sensitivity and 66.7 % specificity). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that VAT area [OR 1.01 (1.01–1.02); p < 0.001] was an independent risk factor in predicting MAKE30. Patients with a VAT area > 200 cm2 had more requirements of renal replacement therapy (32% vs. 12 %, P < 0.001), and a significantly higher incidence of other poor clinical outcomes (all p < 0.05). ConclusionEarly assessment of the VAT area may help identify ANP patients at high risk of MAKE30, suggesting that it could be a potential indicator for adverse kidney events.

Incidence and risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) - A single center experience

IntroductionInflammation-induced dysregulation of the coagulation cascade and vascular stasis in hospitalized patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) serve as a milieu for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are often underrecognized. We evaluated the incidence and risk factors for VTE in a cohort of patients with ANP. MethodsAll adult patients with ANP at our center between 2009 and 2022 were followed for three months after index hospitalization and categorized into cases and controls based on development of VTE. Demographic, clinical, and radiologic characteristics during admission were compared. A multivariable analysis was done to identify independent predictors for VTE. A p value of <0.05 was taken as significant. ResultsAmong 643 ANP patients, 512 [males-350, median age-52 years] were eligible for inclusion. VTE developed in 64 (12.5 %) patients – 28 DVT (5 %), 22 PE (4 %) and both in 14 (3 %) after a median 16 days from the diagnosis of ANP. Significant independent predictors for VTE on multivariable analysis were age ≥60 years (OR 1.91; 95 % CI 1.04–3.53), peri-pancreatic extent of necrosis (OR 7.61; 95 % CI 3.94–14.70), infected necrosis (OR 2.26; 95 % CI 1.13–4.50) and total length of stay ≥14 days (OR 4.08; 95 % CI 1.75–9.50). ConclusionsThe overall incidence of VTE in our cohort of patients with ANP was 12.5 %, which was usually diagnosed within one month of hospitalization. High-risk patients can be stratified based on clinical and imaging characteristics and may benefit from intensive DVT screening and prophylaxis during hospitalization and following discharge.

Assessment of Early Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Management of Acute Calcular Cholecystitis

Abstract Background Acute cholecystitis is one of the most significant diseases in the Western world and has a high socioeconomic impact. Mainly, patients with gallstones and older adults are affected. The main complication of acute cholecystitis is recurrent biliary colic and cholestasis. The latter may lead to ascending cholangitis, and while this can be managed with antibiotics, other complications cannot be cured conservatively such as gangrenous changes, gall bladder perforation and biliary leakage, and acute necrotic gallstone pancreatitis. Liver abscesses and underlying incidental carcinoma have also been reported in some cases. Aim of the Work The purpose of this study is to focus on success rate of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a management of acute calcular cholecystitis along with its operative and post- operative outcomes. Patients and Methods This is a prospective cohort study conducted on forty (40) patients presenting to Ain-Shams University hospitals and authorized hospitals presented with acute calcular cholecystitis starting from January 2021 and December 2021. Results Our study demonstrates that in terms of morbidity and mortality, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe, feasible and cost-effective for cases of acute cholecystitis. The outcome of the patients in our study provides further evidence that early laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed within the first 72 hours of symptoms with no significant increase in length of operation. Moreover, there was no significant increase in the rate of major intra operative or post operative complications such as bleeding, bile duct injury, bowel injury, wound infection and conversion to open cholecystectomy. The major advantage of early cholecystectomy was that early laparoscopic cholecystectomy allows significantly shorter total hospital stay and reduction in days away from work. Moreover, it avoids repeated admissions for recurrent symptoms. Conclusion Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe, feasible and cost-effective for cases of acute cholecystitis and its major advantage is that it allows significantly shorter total hospital stay and reduction in days away from work and avoids repeated admissions for recurrent symptoms.

Construction and validation of a rat model of acute necrotizing pancreatitis-associated intestinal injury.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory reaction of the pancreatic tissue, which involves auto-digestion, edema, hemorrhage, and necrosis. AP can be categorized into mild, moderately severe, and severe AP, with severe pancreatitis also referred to as acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). ANP is characterized by the accumulation of necrotic material in the peritoneal cavity. This can result in intestinal injury. However, the mechanism of ANP-associated intestinal injury remains unclear. We established an ANP-associated intestinal injury rat model (ANP-IR model) by injecting pancreatitis-associated ascites fluid (PAAF) and necrotic pancreatic tissue at various proportions into the triangular area formed by the left renal artery and ureter. The feasibility of the ANP-IR model was verified by comparing the similar changes in indicators of intestinal inflammation and barrier function between the two rat models. In addition, we detected changes in apoptosis levels and YAP protein expression in the ileal tissues of rats in each group and validated them in vitro in rat epithelial crypt cells (IEC-6) to further explore the potential injury mechanisms of ANP-associated intestinal injury. We also collected clinical data from patients with ANP to validate the effects of PAAF and pancreatic necrosis on intestinal injury. Our findings offer a theoretical basis for restricting the buildup of peritoneal necrosis in individuals with ANP, thus promoting the restoration of intestinal function and enhancing treatment efficacy. The use of the ANP-IR model in further studies can help us better understand the mechanism and treatment of ANP-associated intestinal injury.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We constructed a rat model of acute necrotizing pancreatitis-associated intestinal injury and verified its feasibility. In addition, we identified the mechanism by which necrotic pancreatic tissue and pancreatitis-associated ascites fluid (PAAF) cause intestinal injury through the HIPPO signaling pathway.

Clinical aspects of diagnosis and prognosis of acute necrotic pancreatitis

Aim - to evaluate diagnostic markers of acute pancreatitis. Materials and methods. The study was conducted in the period from 2014 to 2023 and was based on the assessment of the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) in 237 patients. All patients were divided due to the severity of AP. Mild AP was detected in 85 (35.86%), moderate - in 90 (37.97%), severe - in 44 (18.56%), critical - in 18 (7.59%) patients. Also, two study groups were formed: the Group 1 (patients with mild and moderate AP) and the Group 2 (severe and critical AP). Results. The level of procalcitonin in the blood was increased in 29 (12.23%) patients of the Group 2 (severe and critical AP) and was &gt;2.0 ng/ml. Among them in 25 (86.2%) patients early surgical treatment was perfomed and septic inflammation was detected in operating room. Typical ultrasound signs of AP were in 207 (87.34%) patients. Correlation roots between amylase and diastase on the first day of illness were: r=0,71 in the Group 1 and r=0.73 in the Group 2. Conclusions. The diagnosis of AP should be based on a comparative evaluation of the results of instrumental, laboratory tests and clinical symptoms. Levels of PCT, amylase, blood glucose, and urine diastase together with other clinical parameters helped to confirm the diagnosis of AP on admission to the hospital in 162 (92.57%) and 54 (87.09%) patients of the Group 1 and the Group 2. PCT should be used to predict complications and evaluate the efficiency of antibacterial therapy. The study was performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee for all participants. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Step-Up versus Open Approach in the Treatment of Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis: A Case-Matched Analysis of Clinical Outcomes and Long-Term Pancreatic Sufficiency.

Background/Objectives: Acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) with secondary infection of necrotic tissue is associated with a high rate of complications and mortality. The optimal approach is still debatable, but the minimally invasive modality has gained great attention in the last decade as it follows the principle of applying minimal surgical trauma to achieve a satisfying therapeutic objective. We compared clinical outcomes between the step-up approach (SUA) and open necrosectomy (ON) in the treatment of acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Methods: A prospective cohort study over the period of 2011-2021 in a university teaching hospital was performed. Results of 99 consecutive patients with ANP who required surgical/radiological intervention were collected. A case match analysis (2:1) was performed, and the final groups comprised 40 patients in the OA group and 20 patients in the SUA group. Demographic, clinicopathologic, and treatment data were reviewed. Results: Baseline characteristics and disease severity were comparable between the two groups. The patients from the SUA group had a significantly lower morbidity rate and rate of pancreatic insufficiency. Death occurred in 4 of 20 patients (20%) in the SUA group and in 11 of 40 patients (27.5%) in the ON group (risk ratio with the step-up approach, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 1.99; p = 0.53). Conclusions: A minimally invasive step-up approach provides comparable outcomes to open necrosectomy in the treatment of ANP with infected pancreatic necrosis. While mortality and hospital stay were comparable between the groups, morbidity and pancreatic insufficiency were significantly lower in the SUA group. Further studies on a larger number of patients are required to define the place of SUA in the modern treatment of ANP.

ACUTE VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM IS COMMON FOLLOWING ACUTE NECROTIZING PANCREATITIS AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH WORSE CLINICAL OUTCOMES.

While splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is a well-known local complication of acute pancreatitis, extra-splanchnic VTE (ESVT) is inadequately studied. Here, we aim to explore the incidence of VTE in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) and the associated mortality. This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing an electronic health record database. Adults with a diagnosis of ANP from January 2017 to December 2022 were identified using appropriate ICD-10-CM codes. The primary outcome was development of acute ESVT within one month of ANP. Secondary outcomes were 90-day mortality, 30-day rehospitalization, and oral anticoagulant (OAC) use in patients with ESVT. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed for baseline characteristics and common comorbidities. 17,942 (7.11%) patients were diagnosed with ANP during the study period and about 10% (1,737) of them had a diagnosis of ESVT. Of all VTE, 61% were ESVT with or without SVT, and 63% (N = 1,799) were SVT. 90-day mortality (16.3% vs. 5.7%, risk ration, RR 2.86 [95% CI 2.29-3.56]) and 30-day rehospitalization (31% Vs 19%, RR 1.63 [95% CI 1.49-1.79]) were higher in patients with ESVT compared to non-VTE patients. 60% of patients with ESVT were on OAC and OAC use was associated with lower 90-day mortality (8.9% vs. 19.4%, RR 0.46) without increased risk of adverse events, like - acute gastrointestinal bleeding, intracranial bleeding, or need for packed red cell transfusion. Systemic VTE is common in patients with ANP and may contribute to increased mortality and risk of readmissions. Prospective studies can confirm our findings and explore the role of aggressive VTE prophylaxis in patients with ANP during hospital stay, and in the immediate ambulatory period.

Tracking Wall Characteristics of Necrotic Pancreatic Fluid Collections in Acute Pancreatitis on Serial Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography

Abstract Background Encapsulated pancreatic fluid collection (PFC) is a requisite for endoscopic drainage procedures. The 4-week threshold for defining walled-off necrosis does not capture the dynamic process of encapsulation. We aim to investigate the changes in the wall characteristics of PFC in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) by comparing baseline contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) with follow-up CT scans. Methods This retrospective study comprised consecutive patients with ANP who underwent a baseline CECT within first 2 weeks and follow-up CECT in the third to fifth weeks of illness. Presence, extent, and encapsulation thickness (defined as enhancing wall around the collection) on baseline CECT were compared with follow-up CT (done in the third–fifth weeks of illness). Results Thirty patients (19 males and 11 females; mean age 41.5 ± 13.5 years) were included in the study. The mean time to first CECT was 10 ± 3.6 days. There were 58 collections. The most common site was the lesser sac (n = 29), followed by the left pararenal space (n = 15). At baseline CT, 52 (89.7%) collections had varying degree of encapsulation (15.3%, complete encapsulation). Complete encapsulation was seen in 52 and 82.6% collections in third and fourth week, respectively. All collections in fifth week and beyond were encapsulated. The wall was thicker on follow-up CECT scans (p &lt; 0.01). The mean wall thickness was not significantly associated with the degree of encapsulation (p = 0.417). There was no significant association between the site and degree of encapsulation (p = 0.546). Conclusion Encapsulation is dynamic and collections may get “walled off” before 4 weeks. Walled-off collections should be defined based on imaging rather than a fixed 4-week revised Atlanta classification threshold.

Step-Up Management in Acute Pancreatitis: A Tertiary Care Center's Experience From Southern India.

Background The clinical spectrum of acute pancreatitis (AP) ranges from mild disease to severe form associated with multiorgan failure, prolonged hospital stay, high morbidity, and mortality. Acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) is a severe form of AP. This study evaluates AP's outcomes after applying principles of the step-upapproach in a tertiary healthcare center in south India. Methodology This prospective observational study was carried out from January 2021 to December 2022. The study population includes patients admitted to our department with AP. Results Ninetypatients were included in the study, most of them were middle-aged males with ethanol ingestion as the common etiology. Thirty-seven (41.1%) patients had mild AP, 25 (27.7%)had moderately severe AP, and 28 (31.1%)had severe AP. Organ failure at admission was noted in 36 (40%) patients. Twenty-three (25.5%) patients developed ANP. Infected necrosis was noted in 3 (3.33%) patients. Eighteen (20%) patients needed image-guided percutaneous drainage. Seven (38.8%) needed necrosectomy following percutaneous drainage. Mortality was observed in 8 (8.8%) patients. Specifically, mortality was noted in 6 (6.6%) patients who presented later in their disease course. Conclusions Percutaneous catheter drainage is a safe and effective therapy to tide over the initial phase of AP. It also serves as a bridging therapy till the patient is clinically fit for a necrosectomy. Severe AP cases presenting late in their course are associated with significant mortality even after step-upmanagement. Standardized protocols for referral and management are essential to obtain a good clinical outcome.

Early Endoscopic Interventions for Pancreatic Necrosis: Indications, Technique, and Outcomes.

Endoscopic transmural drainage is usually performed for symptomatic well-encapsulated walled-off necrosis (WON) that usually develops in the delayed phase (> 4weeks after disease onset) of acute necrotising pancreatitis (ANP). Endoscopic drainage is usually not advocated in the early (< 4weeks after disease onset) stage of illness because of the risk of complications due to an incompletely formed encapsulating wall and poor demarcation of viable from necrotic tissue. However, emerging data from expert tertiary care centres over the last few years shows that the early endoscopic transluminal drainage approach is effective and safe. The development of lumen-apposing metal stents and better accessories for endoscopic necrosectomy has fuelled the expansion of indications of endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis. However, early endoscopic drainage is associated with higher rates of adverse events; therefore, careful patient selection is paramount. This article will review the current indications, techniques and outcomes of early endoscopic transluminal drainage in pancreatic necrotic collections.

Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis Complicated With Sinistral Portal Hypertension And Mechanical Obstruction Of The Colon: A Case Report.

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) is often associated with acute necrotic collection (ANC) or walled-off necrosis (WON). Due to the close anatomical connection between the pancreas, the spleen, and the transverse colon, necrotizing pancreatitis is often combined with spleen or colon involvement. Gastrointestinal dysfunction usually caused by pancreatitis leads to paralytic intestinal obstruction. However, pancreatitis combined with mechanical colonic obstruction is extremely rare. It can easily be misdiagnosed as malignant intestinal obstruction, and diagnosing the cause of intestinal obstruction becomes more critical when accompanied by Sinistral portal hypertension (SPH). Surgical resection is the primary method for the previous occurrence of colonic complications. In this case report, upon admission, a 37-year-old patient was diagnosed with acute necrotizing pancreatitis with sinistral portal hypertension. On the 6th day after admission, the patient developed a sudden colonic obstruction. After identifying the cause, the patient underwent a transanal decompression tube and minimally invasive necrosectomy, avoiding colon resection. In acute necrotizing pancreatitis combined with colonic mechanical obstruction, it is essential to clarify the etiology, and focus treatment on clearing the peripancreatic necrotic tissue, non-surgical treatment to deal with colonic obstruction is feasible, and the principle of individualized treatment should be used throughout the disease.

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

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. 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. 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. 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. Therapeutic/Care Management; Level V.

Immune-Enhancing Treatment among Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis Patients with Metabolic Abnormalities: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Metabolic syndrome is common in patients with acute pancreatitis and its components have been reported to be associated with infectious complications. In this post hoc analysis, we aimed to evaluate whether metabolic abnormalities impact the effect of immune-enhancing thymosin alpha-1 (Tα1) therapy in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) patients. All data were obtained from the database for a multicenter randomized clinical trial that evaluated the efficacy of Tα1 in ANP patients. Patients who discontinued the Tα1 treatment prematurely were excluded. The primary outcome was 90-day infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) after randomization. Three post hoc subgroups were defined based on the presence of hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, or both at the time of randomization. In each subgroup, the correlation between Tα1 and 90-day IPN was assessed using the Cox proportional-hazards regression model. Multivariable propensity-score methods were used to control potential bias. Overall, 502 participants were included in this post hoc analysis (248 received Tα1 treatment and 254 received matching placebo treatment). Among them, 271 (54.0%) had hyperglycemia, 371 (73.9%) had hypertriglyceridemia and 229 (45.6%) had both. Tα1 therapy was associated with reduced incidence of IPN among patients with hyperglycemia (18.8% vs 29.7%: hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.37 to 0.97; p=0.03), but not in the other subgroups. Additional multivariate regression models using three propensity-score methods yielded similar results. Among ANP patients with hyperglycemia, immune-enhancing Tα1 treatment was associated with a reduced risk of IPN (ClinicalTrials.gov, Registry number: NCT02473406).

A313 DISCONNECTED PANCREATIC DUCT SYNDROME: A RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY REVIEWING AN IMPORTANT BUT OVERLOOKED COMPLICATION OF NECROTIZING PANCREATITIS

Abstract Background Disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome (DPDS) is a complication of acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) characterized by a complete disruption of the main pancreatic duct, leading to the loss of continuity between the pancreatic duct and the gastrointestinal tract (figure 1). Due to unopposed leakage of residual pancreatic fluid, patients with DPDS often experience a prolonged disease course with significant morbidity, including complications such as pancreatic fistulas. However, information about the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of DPDS remains scarce. Aims To assess clinical outcomes, diagnostic delay, burden of endoscopic and surgical interventions, and complications related to DPDS. Methods A retrospective review was conducted for all patients diagnosed with DPDS who underwent either endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) at our tertiary center between January 2010 and December 2022. Results Fifteen patients with DPDS following ANP were identified. The median age of patients at DPDS diagnosis was 56 years (range 33-86 years), with 47% being female. The most common etiology of ANP was biliary (40%), followed by idiopathic (33%) and alcoholic (27%). The median time between ANP diagnosis and DPDS diagnosis was 265 days (range 86-2023 days). Patients underwent a median of 3 (1-9) endoscopic interventions and 1 (0-5) surgical intervention between the initial ANP episode and DPDS diagnosis. 40% of patients experienced intra-abdominal sepsis secondary to infected pancreatic fluid collections. 20% developed pancreatic fistulas (two small bowel fistulas and one cutaneous fistula). 20% developed new-onset diabetes, and 13% had significant worsening of pre-existing diabetes. No mortalities were reported. Conclusions There is a significant delay in diagnosing DPDS following ANP, and a substantial burden of endoscopic interventions is required. Frequent complications of DPDS were pancreatic fistulas, recurrent pancreatic fluid collections, and pancreatogenic diabetes. Developing a predictive model for assessing the risk of DPDS development following ANP could aid in earlier diagnosis and potentially reduce morbidity and complications associated with DPDS. Figure 1. Contrast enhanced CT demonstrating typical finding in DPDS in coronal (A) and axial (B) views. CT demonstrates 3cm area of necrosis involving pancreatic neck/body (asterisk) with viable upstream parenchyma in the remainder of the body and tail (white arrow). Pancreatic head/uncinate parenchyma and main duct appear intact (black arrow). B, the distal pancreatic duct is not dilated. DPDS, disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome. Funding Agencies None

A316 ACUTE NECROTIZING PANCREATITIS COMPLICATED BY PULMONARY EMBOLISM: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory condition associated with local and systemic complications. Severe pancreatitis can include the development of peripancreatic fluid collections and necrotizing pancreatitis (NP). Vascular complications are one of the causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with AP. Splanchnic thrombosis has been well described in AP and can been seen in up to 24% of patients. Extra splanchnic vessel thrombosis, including pulmonary embolism (PE), is rare. Aims Describe a case of acute NP with peripancreatic fluid collection complicated with bilateral PE and review the relevant literature. Methods We performed a literature review for AP complicated by PE. Results Case: A 60-year-old man presented to the hospital with one day of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. His medical history was significant for obesity with a BMI of 40. He was not on any medications. He did not drink alcohol. On exam his heart rate was 58, blood pressure 149/94 mmHG, oxygen saturation was 95% on room air, he was afebrile. His abdomen was tender in the epigastric region. His labs revealed a white blood cell count of 14 x 109/L, lipase ampersand:003E 3,000 U/L, Bilirubin 40 umol/ L, AST 613 U/L, ALT 527 U/L, GGT 394 U/L, ALP 94 U/L, Creatinine 159 mmol/L. CT abdomen/pelvis revealed cholelithiasis without choledocholithiasis or biliary dilation. The pancreas was inflammed with necrosis throughout. There were two peripancreatic fluid collections (60mm x 41mm, and 148mm x 89mm). He was diagnosed with acute necrotizing pancreatitis thought secondary to gallstones. He was fluid resuscitated, started on antibiotics and unfractionated heparin (UFH) for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis. His oral intake remained low. Imaging on day 30 showed a large walled off necrotic collection (25cm x15cm). Vascular strucutres were patent. On day 36 he underwent endoscopic ultrasound guided drainage via lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS). On day 43 he developed new tachycardia. CT chest revealed bilateral pulmonary emboli (Image 1). Doppler ultrasound revealed bilateral occlusive thrombus in the calf veins. He was treated with therapeutic UFH. Literature review: We identified 10 case reports describing AP complicated by PE. The age amonst reports was variable (21 to 68). 4 cases reported additional thrombosis outside of the pulmonary vasculature. No cases which described splanchnic venous thrombosis prior. 3 cases reported pancreatic necrosis. The use of DVT prophylaxis was not reported. There is one case of PE 2 days after LAMS insertion in a patient with known thromboembolic disease. Conclusions PE is a rare complication of AP. Novel to this case was the recent deployment of a LAMS, the significance of which is unknown to date. Improved documentation of variables in future reports is needed to further characterize this event. Image 1: Acute Pulmonary Embolism. Funding Agencies None

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing, instead of procalcitonin, could guide antibiotic usage in patients with febrile acute necrotizing pancreatitis: a multicenter, prospective cohort study.

The effectiveness of procalcitonin-based algorithms in guiding antibiotic usage for febrile acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) remains controversial. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been applied to diagnose infectious diseases. The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of blood mNGS in guiding antibiotic stewardship for febrile ANP. The prospective multicenter clinical trial was conducted at seven hospitals in China. Blood samples were collected during fever (T ≥38.5°C) from ANP patients. The effectiveness of blood mNGS, procalcitonin, and blood culture in diagnosing pancreatic infection was evaluated and compared. Additionally, the real-world utilization of antibiotics and the potential mNGS-guided antimicrobial strategy in febrile ANP were also analyzed. From May 2023 to October 2023, a total of 78 patients with febrile ANP were enrolled and 30 patients (38.5%) were confirmed infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN). Compared with procalcitonin and blood culture, mNGS showed a significantly higher sensitivity rate (86.7% vs. 56.7% vs. 26.7%, P <0.001). Moreover, mNGS outperformed procalcitonin (89.5 vs. 61.4%, P <0.01) and blood culture (89.5 vs. 69.0%, P <0.01) in terms of negative predictive value. Blood mNGS exhibited the highest accuracy (85.7%) in diagnosing IPN and sterile pancreatic necrosis, significantly superior to both procalcitonin (65.7%) and blood culture (61.4%). In the multivariate analysis, positive blood mNGS (OR=60.2, P <0.001) and lower fibrinogen level (OR=2.0, P <0.05) were identified as independent predictors associated with IPN, whereas procalcitonin was not associated with IPN, but with increased mortality (Odds ratio=11.7, P =0.006). Overall, the rate of correct use of antibiotics in the cohort was only 18.6% (13/70) and would be improved to 81.4% (57/70) if adjusted according to the mNGS results. Blood mNGS represents important progress in the early diagnosis of IPN, with particular importance in guiding antibiotic usage for patients with febrile ANP.