Atlanta Classification Research Articles

Management of Complicated Acute Pancreatitis: The Role of Hub-and-Spoke Model.

To determine the primary and secondary outcomes of patients with complicated acute pancreatitis (CAP) of moderate to severe intensity managed by using the hub-and-spoke model. An observational study. Department of Surgery, North Cumbria Integrated Care, Carlisle, UK, from January 2014 to December 2018. Retrospective analysis of 496 episodes of acute pancreatitis managed in 405 patients was done. Data for demographic features and clinical outcomes were analysed. In patients with recurrent admissions, only index admission was considered for analysis. Complicated acute pancreatitis was defined by using the revised Atlanta classification and included all the acute pancreatitis patients with local and or systemic complications. Results: The frequency of CAP was 21.7% (88/405). The mean patients' age was 62.11 ± 17.90 years. The intensive therapy unit (ITU) admission rate was 33% (n = 29), whereas the overall intervention rate was 43.2% (n = 38). The in-hospital mortality rate was 10.2% (n = 9), and the overall mortality rate was 14.8% (n = 13). A comparative analysis of clinical outcomes according to the revised Atlanta classification showed that the rate of complications, need for ITU admission, duration of hospital stay, in-hospital mortality and overall mortality were significantly higher in patients with moderately severe AP (MSAP) and severe AP (SAP). The rate of progression from mild AP to MSAP and SAP remains high. Patients with CAP are at higher risk of ITU admission, prolonged hospital stay, in-hospital mortality and overall mortality. To improve clinical outcomes, the progression of AP to severer forms should be prevented by developing newer strategies, and in cases where complications have already developed, the mortality rate needs to be improved by developing innovative treatment modalities. Acute pancreatitis, Complicated acute pancreatitis, Revised Atlanta classification, Morbidity, Mortality, Survival analysis, Hub and spoke model.

Differences in Clinical Features between Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis and Other Etiologies of Acute Pancreatitis

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to compare clinical features of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTGAP) with those of biliary acute pancreatitis (BAP) and alcoholic acute pancreatitis (AAP), respectively.Methods: Medical records of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) who were admitted to our institution from January 2014 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Disease severity and local complications were evaluated according to the 2012 Revised Atlanta Classification. Systemic complications were evaluated according to the Modified Marshall Scoring System.Results: Of the total 610 patients with AP, those with BAP, AAP, and HTGAP were 310 (50.8%), 144 (23.6%), and 17 (2.8%), respectively. Compared with BAP, HTGAP showed higher proportion of moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP) (64.7% vs. 28.1%, <i>p</i><0.001) and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) (17.6% vs. 5.5%, <i>p</i> <0.001). And HTGAP showed more local complications (76.5% vs. 26.8%, <i>p</i><0.001) and higher recurrence rate (52.9% vs. 6.5%, <i>p</i> <0.001), but there was no significant difference in systemic complications (23.5% vs. 11.6%, <i>p</i> =0.140). Contrarily, there was no significant difference between HTGAP and AAP with respect to disease severity (64.7% vs. 63.9% in MSAP and 17.6% vs. 6.9% in SAP, <i>p</i> =0.181), local complications (76.5% vs. 67.4%, <i>p</i> =0.445), recurrence rate (52.9% vs. 32.6%, <i>p</i> =0.096), and systemic complications (23.5% vs. 11.5%, <i>p</i> =0.233).Conclusions: HTGAP showed higher disease severity, more local complications, and higher recurrence rate than BAP. However, there was no significant difference in clinical features between HTGAP and BAP.

Liver spontaneous hypoattenuation on CT is an imaging biomarker of the severity of acute pancreatitis

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between liver spontaneous attenuation (LSA) on computed tomography (CT) reflecting the degree of steatosis, and the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). Materials and methodsAll consecutive patients admitted from December 2014 to September 2020 for an episode of AP were retrospectively reviewed. LSA was evaluated on early CT examination and all abdominal CT examinations were reviewed by two abdominal radiologists. Severity of AP was categorized using Atlanta classification and CT severity index. Univariable and multivariable statistical analyses were performed. ResultsA total of 467 patients were included. There were 297 men and 170 women, with a mean age of 57 ± 19 (SD) years (range: 18–98 years). Among them, 236 patients (51%) had acute biliary pancreatitis, 134 (29%) had acute alcoholic pancreatitis and 97 (20%) had AP due to other etiologies. A total of 44 (9%) patients had severe AP and 423 (91%) had non severe AP. Median LSA was significantly lower in patients with severe AP (36 Hounsfield units [HU]; interquartile range [IQR]:18; 54) than in patients with non-severe AP (45 HU; IQR: 35; 51) (P < 0.001). In patients with alcoholic AP, median LSA was significantly lower in patients with severe AP (29 HU; IQR: 3; 43) than in those with non-severe AP (42 HU; IQR: 27; 50) (P = 0.022). At multivariable analysis, the third and fourth quartiles of liver spontaneous attenuation values (i.e., < 45 HU/>30 HU and < 30 HU) were independently associated with severe AP (OR, 3.23; 95% CI: 1.33–51.2; P = 0.038 and OR, 8.82; 95% CI: 1.91–69.7; P = 0.014; respectively). ConclusionLSA on CT is associated with clinical severity of AP and may be used as an additional marker of disease severity.

Clinical profile, etiology, and outcome of acute pancreatitis: Experience at a tertiary care center.

Background:Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory process of the pancreas with varying degree of involvement of regional tissues. This was a population-based study on the incidence of AP. We aimed to determine the incidence, etiology, and outcome of AP.Materials and Methodology:This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India, on 120 patients of AP. Clinical history, examination, and laboratory investigations were done. Severity of AP was assessed using the modified Atlanta classification.Results:A total of 120 patients comprising of 88 men (73.33%) and 32 women (26.66%) were recruited. The mean age of study participant was 36.96 ± 13.44 years. The most common presentation was abdominal pain followed by vomiting. The leading etiological factors were alcohol in 85 patients (70.8%) and gallstones in 25 (20.8%). It was idiopathic 5 patients (4.1%). Mortality was seen in three (2.5%) patients, all of which had severe pancreatitis. Patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2, Hematocrit (HCT) ≥44% and C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥150 mg/l had an increased risk of developing a severe AP.Conclusions:Alcohol and gallstones were the most common etiological factors of AP, whereas HCT, CRP, and BMI were the useful predictors of severe pancreatitis.

PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF PANC 3 SCORE IN PREDICTING SEVERITY OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS

Background: About 15-20% of cases of acute pancreatitis progress to a severe form, leading to high mortality rates. Thus early prediction of severity is utmost important so as to provide better management and decrease mortality. Objective: To explore the efficiency of PANC 3 SCORE in predicting the severity in patients with acute pancreatitis on admission and its relation to clinical outcome. Methods: Patients with Acute pancreatitis were assessed to sex, age, body mass index (BMI), etiology of pancreatitis, Hematocrit and presence or absence of pleural effusion at the time of admission intensive care need, length of hospital stay, length of stay in intensive care unit and mortality. The PANC 3 score was determined on admission and compared to acute pancreatitis grade of the Revised Atlanta classification. Results: Out of 46 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, 46 patients met the inclusion criteria. The PANC 3 score was positive in 4 cases (8.69%), pancreatitis progressed to a severe form in 7 cases (15.2%) and 3 patients (6.5%) died. Patients with a positive score and severe pancreatitis required intensive care more often, and stayed for a longer period in intensive care units. The PANC 3 score showed sensitivity of 42.85%, specificity of 97.45%, accuracy of 90.17%, positive predictive value of 75% and negative predictive value of 89.13% in prediction of severe acute pancreatitis. Conclusion: The PANC 3 score has high specificity, high accuracy and high predictive value in prediction of severe acute pancreatitis. It has only 3 parameters which can be easily done in any healthcare system. It does not need much expertise to analyze PANC3 at the time of admission which adds the advantage of this score over other scoring systems.

Akut Pankreatit Hastalarında Nötrofil/Lenfosit ve Trombosit/Lenfosit Oranlarının Tanısal ve Prognostik Değeri

Objective: In this study, we aim at demonstrating whether we can use neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratios (PLR) as a parameter in monitoring the disease severity of Pancreatitis Patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, hospitalized and monitored in gastroenterology service, whose files had retrospectively been studied, were included in the study. The severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis were evaluated with the Atlanta classification. Results: The average of NLR was 9.84±9.60 in the patient group but 2.00±0.86 in the control group. The NLR level was found higher in the patient group. The cut-off value was found as 2.85 (Sensitivity: 86% and specificity: 81%). Although no significant change was found in terms of the average of NLR concerning the disease severity, the decrease in the average of NLR among the groups was found significant in 48 hours. Conclusion: We have found that only the change in NLR level in the first 48th-hour could be associated with the disease severity. We found NLR as a parameter that can be used, applied, and accessed easily.

107 Retrospective Pilot Study in Preparation for Setting Up an Acute Pancreatitis MDT in a Medium Sized NHS Acute Trust in the UK

Abstract Aim Within the spectrum of pancreatitis, patients with severe disease require specialist multidisciplinary care including dietician and radiology input. Therefore, certain patients would benefit from an MDT approach to coordinate their management. This retrospective study analyses data on pancreatitis admissions within our Trust, to inform the set-up of a new specialist MDT. Method Patients were identified using admission coding data. Relevant patient data was extracted, including demographics, disease severity (using the Atlanta classification) and relevant outcomes. Both first-time and repeat admissions were included. Incorrectly coded patients were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Version 23.0). Results Over a study period of 489 days, 246 patients were coded as having pancreatitis.186 patients were first time admissions, and 27 patients were repeat admissions. 33 patients were incorrectly coded and excluded. Hence, the annual acute pancreatitis admission rate was 139 patients/year, with an additional 20 readmissions. 149 (80%) admissions were mild cases, with the remaining 14 (8%) and 23 (12%) being moderate and severe respectively. 149 (80%) were acute cases, compared to 20 (11%) chronic and 17 (9%) acute-on-chronic. 52/186 cases had no cause of pancreatitis recorded; where cause was identified, gallstones were the most common aetiology. Conclusions Pancreatitis is a common reason for admission during a general surgery on-call in our Trust; while the majority of cases are mild, the remaining 20% of moderate–severe cases qualify for discussion at an Acute Pancreatitis MDT. This pilot has facilitated the allocation of resources in our Trust and the MDT goes live in September 2021.

Calcium and pH value might predict persistent renal failure in acute pancreatitis in the early phase

Objectives Persistent renal failure (PRF) increases morbidity and mortality in acute pancreatitis (AP). Traditional scoring systems achieve good diagnostic value of AP but not PRF alone. Our study aimed to determine PRF predictors in AP patients for early intervention in the disease development. Methods In the prospective observational study, we consecutively recruited AP patients from October 2013 to October 2016. Complete clinical characteristics on admission were collected. The 2012 revision of the Atlanta classification diagnosed AP, and the Modified Marshall scoring system defined organ failures. We used univariate and multivariate analyses to select risk factors, and plotted survival curves of different groups and ROC curves of parameters to analyze PRF predictors in AP. Results A total of 29 AP patients with PRF and 280 AP patients without PRF were included. Severity scoring and ICU admission rate were higher in the former group. The PRF group’s mortality was 10-fold higher than without PRF (20.7% versus 2.1%, p < .001). Most relevant kidney metabolism indicators and excretion have significant differences (p < .05) between the two groups. Serum calcium (Ca) and pH value (pH) were independent risk factors of PRF (p < .05). ROC curve analysis indicated Ca and pH might predict PRF in AP with areas under the curves (AUCs) of 0.758 and 0.809. Conclusions AP patients with PRF had higher morbidity and mortality rate. Our study showed that Ca < 1.94 mmol/L and pH < 7.37 when patients on admission could be used to predict PRF in AP.

Index Admission Cholecystectomy and Recurrence of Pediatric Gallstone Pancreatitis: Multicenter Cohort Analysis.

We aim to evaluate recurrence rates of gallstone pancreatitis in children undergoing early vs interval cholecystectomy. A multicenter, retrospective review of pediatric patients admitted with gallstone pancreatitis from 2010 through 2017 was performed. Children were evaluated based on timing of cholecystectomy. Early cholecystectomy was defined as surgery during the index admission, whereas the delayed group was defined as no surgery or surgery after discharge. Outcomes, recurrence rates, and complications were evaluated. Of 246 patients from 6 centers with gallstone pancreatitis, 178 (72%) were female, with mean age 13.5 ± 3.2 years and a mean body mass index of 28.9 ± 15.2. Most (90%) patients were admitted with mild pancreatitis (Atlanta Classification). Early cholecystectomy was performed in 167 (68%) patients with no difference in early cholecystectomy rates across institutions. Delayed group patients weighed less (61 kg vs. 72 kg, p = 0.003) and were younger (12 vs. 14 years, p = 0.001) than those who underwent early cholecystectomy. However, there were no differences in clinical, radiological, or laboratory characteristics between groups. There were 4 (2%) episodes of postoperative recurrent pancreatitis in the early group compared with 22% in the delayed group. More importantly, when cholecystectomy was delayed more than 6 weeks from index discharge, recurrence approached 60%. There were no biliary complications in any group. Cholecystectomy during the index admission for children with gallstone pancreatitis reduces recurrent pancreatitis. Recurrence proportionally increases with time when patients are treated with a delayed approach.

Gene Expression Profiling: Identification of Novel Pathways and Potential Biomarkers in Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Determining the risk of developing severe acute pancreatitis (AP) on presentation to hospital is difficult but vital to enable early management decisions that reduce morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine global gene expression profiles of patients with different acute pancreatitis severity to identify genes and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of severe AP. AP patients (n = 87) were recruited within 24 hours of admission to the Emergency Department and were confirmed to exhibit at least 2 of the following features: (1) abdominal pain characteristic of AP, (2) serum amylase and/or lipase more than 3-fold the upper laboratory limit considered normal, and/or (3) radiographically demonstrated AP on CT scan. Severity was defined according to the Revised Atlanta classification. Thirty-two healthy volunteers were also recruited and peripheral venous blood was collected for performing RNA-Seq. In severe AP, 422 genes (185 upregulated, 237 downregulated) were significantly differentially expressed when compared with moderately severe and mild cases. Pathway analysis revealed changes in specific innate and adaptive immune, sepsis-related, and surface modification pathways in severe AP. Data-driven approaches revealed distinct gene expression groups (endotypes), which were not entirely overlapping with the clinical Atlanta classification. Importantly, severe and moderately severe AP patients clustered away from healthy controls, whereas mild AP patients did not exhibit any clear separation, suggesting distinct underlying mechanisms that may influence severity of AP. There were significant differences in gene expression affecting the severity of AP, revealing a central role of specific immunological pathways. Despite the existence of patient endotypes, a 4-gene transcriptomic signature (S100A8, S100A9, MMP25, and MT-ND4L) was determined that can predict severe AP with an accuracy of 64%.

Use of Modified Balthazar Grades for the Early Prediction of Acute Pancreatitis Severity in the Emergency Department.

ObjectiveTo develop a new approach based on Balthazar grades of acute pancreatitis (AP) and to assess this modified method as a tool for the early prediction of AP severity in the emergency department (ED).MethodsData pertaining to AP patients ≥18 years old that had undergone computed tomography (CT) scanning within 24 h following ED admission between January 1, 2017 and September 30, 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were separated into two groups based on the length of time between the onset of their AP symptoms and the completion of CT scanning (Group 1: <72 h; Group 2: ≥72 h). Modified Balthazar grades for these patients were then assessed, with the concordance between these modified grades and the 2012 revised Atlanta classification being assessed using the Kappa (κ) statistic. The modified grade with the largest κ value was evaluated based on performance traits including Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analyses, calibration curves, and decision curve analyses (DCA) in comparison with bedside index for severity in AP (BISAP) scores.ResultsIn total, 372 patients were included in the present analysis. These patients were regraded according to six methods, with the method yielding the largest κ value consisting of regraded Balthazar grades A–C, D, and E, respectively, corresponding to mild, moderate, and severe AP. The κ values for this method were 0.786 (95% CI, 0.706–0.853) in Group 1 and 0.907 (95% CI, 0.842–0.955) in Group 2, exhibiting nearly complete agreement with the latest Atlanta classification of AP. AUROC values for these modified Balthazar grades when used to predict SAP were significantly higher than those for BISAP scores in Group 1, Group 2, and the overall cohort (P < 0.05). The DCA curves for Group 1, Group 2, and the overall patient cohort exhibited substantial net benefits when using these modified grades across a range of POFs relative to BISAP scores. The calibration curve for this modified approach to predicting POF in AP patients revealed good agreement in this cohort.ConclusionModified Balthazar grades exhibited substantial to near-total agreement with the 2012 revised Atlanta classification of AP patients, and this modified method can thus be used for the early prediction of AP severity in the ED.

Value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in evaluating response to percutaneous catheter drainage in patients with acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUNDEarly prediction of response to percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) of necrotic collections in acute pancreatitis (AP) using simple and objective tests is critical as it may determine patient prognosis. The role of white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has not been assessed as a tool of early prediction of PCD success and is the focus of this study.AIMTo assess the value of WBC and NLR in predicting response to PCD in AP.METHODSThis retrospective study comprised consecutive patients with AP who underwent PCD between June 2018 and December 2019. Severity and fluid collections were classified according to the revised Atlanta classification and organ failure was defined according to the modified Marshall Score. WBC and NLR were monitored 24 h prior PCD (WBC-0/NLR-0) and 24 h (WBC-1/NLR-1), 48 h (WBC-2/NLR-2) and 72 h (WBC-3/NLR-3) after PCD. NLR was calculated by dividing the number of neutrophils by the number of lymphocytes. The association of success of PCD (defined as survival without the need for surgery) with WBC and NLR was assessed. The trend of WBC and NLR was also assessed post PCD.RESULTSOne hundred fifty-five patients [median age 40 ± 13.6 (SD), 64.5% males, 53.5% severe AP] were included in the final analysis. PCD was done for acute necrotic collection in 99 (63.8%) patients and walled-off necrosis in 56 (36.1%) patients. Median pain to PCD interval was 24 ± 69.89 d. PCD was successful in 109 patients (group 1) and 46 patients (group 2) who failed to respond. There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between the two groups except the severity of AP and frequency of organ failure. Both WBC and NLR showed an overall decreasing trend. There was a significant difference between WBC-0 and WBC-1 (P = 0.0001). WBC-1 and NLR-1 were significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.048 and 0.003, respectively). The area under the curve of WBC-1 and NLR-1 for predicting the success of PCD was 0.602 and 0.682, respectively. At a cut-off value of 9.87 for NLR-1, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting the success of PCD were calculated to be 75% and 65.4% respectively.CONCLUSIONWBC and NLR can be used as simple tests for predicting response to PCD in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

BETTER PREDICTION OF SEVERITY IN ACUTE PANCREATITIS USING RADIOLOGICAL CRITERIA.

Background: Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. Severe cases can lead to multi-organ dysfunction. So accurate prediction of severity is of great importance to improve survival. For the prediction of severity, there are several criteria. In this study, we have compared clinical criteria and imaging criteria to detect the severity of acute pancreatitis. In clinical criteria, we have taken Ranson criteria and BISAP(Bedside Index for Severity of Acute Pancreatitis) score. In imaging, we have taken MCTSI(Modified Computed Tomography Severity Index). Method: 50 patients (45 males &amp; 05 females) in the age group of 15-65 years with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, admitted to a tertiary government hospital from July 2017 to June 2019 were included. BISAP score, Ranson criteria, and MCTSI were calculated for all the cases. Then Ranson and BISAP criteria were compared with MCTSI, deciding optimum cut-offs for these scorings, by obtaining the area under the curve analysis. Results: As per Atlanta classification, 31 cases were mild, 8 cases categorized as severe and 11 were grouped as moderately severe acute pancreatitis. Out of 50 cases, Pancreatic necrosis was found in 13 cases. Similarly, 15 patients landed in organ failure. The AUC for MCTSI was found to be consistently higher for predicting severe acute pancreatitis (0.958), pancreatic necrosis (0.942), organ failure (0.941) than Ranson criteria and BISAP criteria. The AUC for Ranson and BISAP criteria in predicting severe acute pancreatitis was 0.904 and 0.874, predicting pancreatic necrosis was 0.876 and 0.896 &amp; in predicting organ failure was 0.881 and 0.880 respectively. Conclusion: MCTSI is more effective in detecting severe acute pancreatitis, organ failure, and pancreatic necrosis. So, the CECT scan is a better and simpler tool to detect the severity objectively for acute pancreatitis.

Therapeutic plasma exchange for the management of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis

<b>BACKGROUND:</b> Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is the third-most important cause of acute pancreatitis (AP) and its early diagnosis is essential to prevent AP-associated morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a promising treatment option for improving patient outcomes and prognosis in HTG-induced AP (HTG-AP). <b>OBJECTIVE:</b> This study assessed the severity of disease in patients with HTG-AP and evaluated the therapeutic effects, safety, and procedural challenges of TPE in its management. <b>METHODS:</b> Patients with HTG-AP, diagnosed according to the Atlanta classification, and exhibiting serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations ≥11.3 mmol/L were included in the study. Consenting patients received TPE using the PRISMAFLEX^® system (TPE group), and the remaining were treated in accordance with the guidelines of Vietnam's Ministry of Health, 2015 (non-TPE group). The duration of hospital or intensive care unit (ICU) stay in patients and mortality rates were compared between the TPE and non-TPE groups. The reduction in serum TG levels was also evaluated in the TPE group. <b>RESULTS:</b> This prospective study included 165 patients with HTG-AP (<i>n</i> = 83, TPE group; <i>n</i> = 82, non-TPE group). The mean age of the patients was 41.0 ± 9.3 years. The duration of hospital and ICU stay was significantly lower in the TPE group compared to that of the non-TPE group (<i>P</i> < 0.05). A significant reduction in TG levels over baseline was noted in patients who received TPE (77%; <i>P</i> < 0.05), which was observed after the first TPE session (70.81%; <i>P</i> < 0.05). <b>CONCLUSION:</b> TPE using the PRISMAFLEX^® system is safe and well-tolerated in patients with HTG-AP and is associated with minimal technical constraints.

P-P05 Acute Pancreatitis during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Overview of Patient Demographics, Disease Severity, Management and Outcomes in Western Health and Social Care Trust

BackgroundAcute pancreatitis is a common disease requiring admissions under surgical and critical care units. The two most common causes are alcohol and gallstones. COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on service delivery and patient management throughout all surgical specialties. In this study, primary aim was to ascertain incidence of COVID-19 in acute pancreatitis patients. Secondary objectives were to study aetiology, demographics, severity, 30 day mortality, outcomes and management of acute pancreatitis patients from Altnagelvin Area Hospital from 1st March, 2020 till 30th August, 2020.MethodsA retrospective observational review of all patients admitted under General Surgical team from March 2020 till September 2020 was performed. Information regarding demographics, severity of acute pancreatitis (using Glasgow score, Atlanta classification and CT severity index score), ICU admission and organ support, treatment modalities and follow-up data for outcomes was collected based on RedCap tool used by COVID-PAN study. The results were compared to outcomes results of COVID-PAN study for COVID-19 negative patients in that study as we had only one patient who was positive for COVID-19 at time of concomitant pancreatitis diagnosis.ResultsForty four (44) patients were admitted with acute pancreatitis. Only one patient (2.3%) was diagnosed with COVID-19 at time of pancreatitis. Aetiology of pancreatitis was found comparable to aetiology reported by large scale studies (2). Mortality was 7% (3 patients). Five patients (11%) needed ICU admission due to organ dysfunction. Three patients (7%) developed ARDS. ConclusionsThe overall incidence of COVID-19 in pancreatitis in our population of study was low. Therefore, results were compared to patients who were COVID-19 negative in COVID-PAN study. Patients with acute pancreatitis in our target population were mostly elderly, about one in five had moderate to severe or severe pancreatitis and in 16.3% the aetiology could not be identified. As has been observed in other centres globally, urgent for gallstone pancreatitis faced significant delays with no patients being offered index cholecystectomy and only 4 out of 19 patients having undergone interval cholecystectomy.

P-P36 AXIOS™ stents in the management of pancreatic fluid collections: case series from a single healthcare trust

Abstract Background This was a consecutive case-series of all pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) managed with AXIOS™ stents in a 3 year period from a single healthcare trust, retrospectively analysed to determine the rate of technical success, clinical success and adverse events related to the procedure. Methods All patients in who underwent AXIOS stenting for PFCs in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust between May 2016 and July 2019 were included, with a follow-up period of 1 year. Electronic care records (ECR) and Radiology reports were reviewed for each patient. PFCs were categorised into walled-of pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) and pseudocysts as per the revised Atlanta classification. The number of repeat procedures, endoscopic lavage +/- necrosectomy, the need for definitive surgery or any adverse events post-procedure were recorded. Results 45 patients were included in the study (21 male, 24 female). 17 patients (37.8 %) had WOPN and 28 (62.2 %) pancreatic pseudocysts. Median collection diameter on CT imaging was 12 cm (range 6.2 – 22 cm). The procedure was technically successful in 43 patients (95.6%), with stent mal-deployment in the remaining 2. Median duration for stenting was 29.5 days (Range 13 – 92). The procedure was clinically successful for 33 patients (73.3%). n = 8 (17.8%) of patients were re-admitted with sepsis following stent insertion requiring intravenous antibiotics. n = 16 (35.6%) patients required repeated endoscopic lavage +/- necrosectomy following stent blockage (n = 11 WOPN, n = 5 pseudocyst). n = 2 (4.4%) stents accidentally dislodged during lavage necessitating surgical removal. n = 4 (8.9%) patients required a second AXIOS stent within 45 days of removal, n = 2 (4.4%) required CT guided drainage and n = 8 (17.8%) ultimately required surgical intervention.The rate of adverse events post-procedure was 33.3%. Conclusions AXIOS stenting appears to be effective first-line in the “step-up” approach to managing PFCs. Despite some drawbacks, our study showed they were technically successful in 95.6% and clinically successful in 73.3% of cases, requiring no further intervention. For PFCs that do require surgery, AXIOS stenting may allow for a period of patient optimisation prior to definitive treatment.

The Effect of Plasma Triglyceride-Lowering Therapy on the Evolution of Organ Function in Early Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis Patients With Worrisome Features (PERFORM Study): Rationale and Design of a Multicenter, Prospective, Observational, Cohort Study.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a potentially life-threatening inflammatory disease with multiple etiologies. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) has been increasing in recent years. It is reported that early triglyceride (TG) levels were associated with the severity of the disease, and TG- lowering therapies, including medical treatment and blood purification, may impact the clinical outcomes. However, there is no consensus regarding the optimal TG-lowering therapy, and clinical practice varies greatly among different centers. Our objective is to evaluate the TG-lowering effects of different therapies and their impact on clinical outcomes in HTG-AP patients with worrisome features.Methods: This is a multicenter, observational, prospective cohort study. A total of approximately 300 patients with HTG-AP with worrisome features are planned to be enrolled. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the relationship between TG decline and the evolution of organ failure, and patients will be dichotomized depending on the rate of TG decline. The primary outcome is organ failure (OF) free days to 14 days after enrollment. Secondary outcomes include new-onset organ failure, new-onset multiple-organ failure (MOF), new-onset persistent organ failure (POF), new receipt of organ support, requirement of ICU admission, ICU free days to day 14, hospital free days to day 14, 60-day mortality, AP severity grade (Based on the Revised Atlanta Classification), and incidence of systemic and local complications. Generalized linear model (GLM), Fine and Gray competing risk regression, and propensity score matching will be used for statistical analysis.Discussion: Results of this study will reveal the current practice of TG-lowering therapy in HTG-AP and provide necessary data for future trials.

Effects of the peripherally acting \u03bc-opioid receptor antagonist methylnaltrexone on acute pancreatitis severity: study protocol for a multicentre double-blind randomised placebo-controlled interventional trial, the PAMORA-AP trial

BackgroundModerate to severe acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with a high rate of complications and increased mortality, yet no targeted pharmacologic treatment currently exists. As pain is a dominant symptom in AP, patients are exposed to excess levels of both endo- and exogenous opioids, which may have harmful effects on the course of AP. This trial investigates the effects of the peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonist (PAMORA) methylnaltrexone on disease severity and clinical outcomes in patients with moderate to severe AP.MethodsPAMORA-AP is a multicentre, investigator-initiated, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, interventional trial, which will be conducted at four referral centres for acute pancreatitis in Denmark. Ninety patients with early-onset AP (pain onset within 48 h) as well as predicted moderate to severe disease (two or more systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria upon admission) will be prospectively included. Subsequently, participants will be randomised (1:1) to intravenous treatment with either methylnaltrexone or matching placebo (Ringer’s lactate) during 5 days of admission. The primary endpoint will be the group difference in disease severity as defined and measured by the Pancreatitis Activity Scoring System (PASS) score 48 h after randomisation. Secondary endpoints include daily PASS scores; disease severity according to the Atlanta classification; quantification of need for analgesics, nutritional support, intravenous fluid resuscitation and antibiotics; duration of hospital admissions, readmission rates and mortality. Pain intensity and gut function will be self-reported using validated questionnaires. Exploratory endpoints include circulating levels of pro-and anti-inflammatory markers, polyethylene glycol recovery from the urine, circulating levels of blood markers of intestinal permeability, the prevalence of pancreatic complications on computed tomography (CT) scans, and colon transit time assessed using a CT-based radiopaque marker method.DiscussionThis trial aims to evaluate the PAMORA methylnaltrexone as a novel targeted pharmacotherapy in patients with moderate to severe AP with the potential benefit of improved patient outcomes.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.govNCT04743570. Registered on 28 January 2021. EudraCT 2020-002313-18.

61-Year-Old Man With Nausea and Vomiting

61-Year-Old Man With Nausea and Vomiting

Chemokine receptor 8 expression may be linked to disease severity and elevated interleukin 6 secretion in acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUNDAcute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease, which presents with epigastric pain and is clinically diagnosed by amylase and lipase three times the upper limit of normal. The 2012 Atlanta classification stratifies the severity of AP as one of three risk categories namely, mild AP (MAP), moderately severe AP (MSAP), and severe AP (SAP). Challenges in stratifying AP upon diagnosis suggest that a better understanding of the underlying complex pathophysiology may be beneficial. AIMTo identify the role of the chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8), expressed by T-helper type-2 Lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages, and its possible association to Interleukin (IL)-6 and AP stratification.METHODSThis study was a prospective case-control study. A total of 40 patients were recruited from the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Bioassays were performed on 29 patients (14 MAP, 11 MSAP, and 4 SAP) and 6 healthy controls as part of a preliminary study. A total of 12 mL of blood samples were collected at Day (D) 1, 3, 5, and 7 post epigastric pain. Using multiplex immunoassay panels, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) arrays, and multicolour flow cytometry analysis, immune response-related proteins, genes, and cells were profiled respectively. GraphPad Prism™ software and fold change (FC) analysis was used to determine differences between the groups. P<0.05 was considered significant.RESULTSThe concentration of IL-6 was significantly different at D3 post epigastric pain in both the MAP group and MSAP group with P = 0.001 and P = 0.013 respectively, in a multiplex assay. When a FC of 2 was applied to identify differentially expressed genes using RT2 Profiler, CCR8 was shown to increase steadily with disease severity from MAP (1.33), MSAP (38.28) to SAP (1172.45) median FC. Further verification studies using RT-PCR showed fold change increases of CCR8 in MSAP and SAP ranging from 1000 to 1000000 times when represented as Log10, compared to healthy control respectively at D3. The findings also showed differing lymphocyte and monocyte cell frequency between the groups. With monocyte population frequency as high as 70% in MSAP at D3.CONCLUSIONThe higher levels of CCR8 and IL-6 in the severe patients and immune cell differences compared to MAP and controls provide an avenue for exploring AP stratification to improve management.