British Society Of Gastroenterology Research Articles

Diagnostic Performance of a Noninvasive Breath Test for Colorectal Cancer: COBRA1 Study

Diagnostic Performance of a Noninvasive Breath Test for Colorectal Cancer: COBRA1 Study

A masterclass in gastroenterology practice

BJ Olsen summarises key takeaways from the British Society of Gastroenterology 2022 conference that can enhance gastrointestinal and liver nursing practice

The National Audit of Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) in the United Kingdom: Defining the Audit Dataset and Data Collection System.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a debilitating chronic liver disease that progresses to cirrhosis with attendant complications in a substantial proportion of patients. It is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality in the United Kingdom (UK). The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) published guidelines on PBC management, which included key audit standards. Therefore, we propose the first UK-wide audit of the management of PBC, sanctioned by the BSG and the British Association for Study of the Liver (BASL), to benchmark NHS trusts and health boards against these audit standards as a guide to targeted improvement in the delivery of PBC-related health care.

Management of Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Survey to Assess Adherence to Guidelines Across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Introduction: Acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common surgical problem requiring hospitalization in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland. The first UK lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) management guidelines were published in 2019 by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG). We aimed to evaluate self-reported adherence to BSG clinical guidance (CG) within the UK and Ireland.Methods and materials: A Questionnaire was designed based on LGIB BSG CG 2019 using Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA). This was distributed to surgical consultants and senior surgical practitioners (specialists, Trust grade registrars, and specialist registrars) across different centers in the UK and Ireland over four weeks (13th March to 5th April 2021). Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).Results: A total of 64 responses were recorded from 18 different centers in the UK and Ireland. The ratio of consultants and registrars was almost the same (34:30, 53.1%:46.9%). The majority of respondents were from colorectal surgery (65.6%, n=42) followed by general surgeons (23.4%, n=15). A total of 41 respondents (64.1%) admitted that BSG CG 2019 were practically applicable at their center. Approximately 75% of respondents did not use or were unaware of the Shock index or Oakland score to stratify patients. That translated into 59% opting to admit patients with a minor bleed. Around 36% wanted to perform a CT angiogram for a stable major bleed, while 37% were unaware of the interventional radiology (IR) referral pathway.Conclusion: There is patchy adherence to the guidelines leading to significant variations in LGIB management practice and avoidable admissions.

Setting Up a Local Registry to Improve the Care of Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a rare but progressive chronic disease of the liver. The national guidelines aim to standardise the care of patients with PBC across the UK. The guidelines also recommend routine screening for the presence of symptoms in patients with PBC, although none suggest how such screening should be achieved in clinical practice. We aim to develop a sustainable and comprehensive local registry for patients with PBC to examine current practice and help define long-term complications and survival.Setting up the registry involves working with several workstreams to identify the data required for the registry, technical IT infrastructure to support the data collection, and a steering committee to oversee the work of the PBC registry. This registry will involve patients aged ≥18 years from the London North West University Health Trust hospitals with a diagnosis of PBC as defined by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) criteria. Patients will not be subjected to any additional treatments or investigations as the registry will be part of routine clinical practice.

Quality of upper GI endoscopy: a prospective cohort study on impact of endoscopist education

Guidelines on quality of upper GI (UGI) endoscopy have been proposed by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE). However, these guidelines have not been evaluated in clinical practice. We aimed to measure the impact of endoscopist education on the quality of gastroscopy based on these guidelines and the association between compliance with guidelines and the detection of clinically significant premalignant pathology such as Barrett's esophagus (BE), esophageal squamous dysplasia, gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM), and Helicobacter pylori. Endoscopists participated in a 1-hour education session on recommended performance measures and endoscopic detection of premalignant pathologies. A controlled before and after study was performed, measuring compliance with guidelines and rates of detection of pathology in control and intervention groups. Over 2 years, 2719 procedures were performed: 1412 in the control group and 1307 in the intervention group. The proportion of procedures complying with guidelines was higher in the intervention group. The use of biopsy sampling protocols (eg, management of precancerous conditions of the stomach, 52% vs 91%; P= .007) and standardized terminology (eg, Forrest classification, 24% vs 68%; P< .001) was significantly higher. Detection of H pylori was higher in the intervention group (5.5% vs 9.8%, P= .003). Minimum inspection time of 7 minutes was associated with detection of BE (7.4% vs 2.0%, P< .001). A simple endoscopist education session enhanced the quality of UGI endoscopy by improving compliance with BSG and ESGE recommendations and increasing the detection of clinically significant pathology. A minimum inspection time of 7 minutes was associated with increased diagnostic yield and may be a feasible quality indicator for clinical practice.

Assessment of the role of the Edinburgh dysphagia score in referral triage in a national service evaluation of the urgent suspected upper gastrointestinal cancer pathway.

The British Society of Gastroenterology has recommended the Edinburgh Dysphagia Score (EDS) to risk-stratify dysphagia referrals during the endoscopy COVID recovery phase. External validation of the diagnostic accuracy of EDS and exploration of potential changes to improve its diagnostic performance. A prospective multicentre study of consecutive patients referred with dysphagia on an urgent suspected upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer pathway between May 2020 and February 2021. The sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) of EDS were calculated. Variables associated with UGI cancer were identified by forward stepwise logistic regression and a modified Cancer Dysphagia Score (CDS) developed. 1301 patients were included from 19 endoscopy providers; 43% male; median age 62 (IQR 51-73) years. 91 (7%) UGI cancers were diagnosed, including 80 oesophageal, 10 gastric and one duodenal cancer. An EDS ≥3.5 had a sensitivity of 96.7 (95% CI 90.7-99.3)% and an NPV of 99.3 (97.8-99.8)%. Age, male sex, progressive dysphagia and unintentional weight loss >3kg were positively associated and acid reflux and localisation to the neck were negatively associated with UGI cancer. Dysphagia duration <6months utilised in EDS was replaced with progressive dysphagia in CDS. CDS ≥5.5 had a sensitivity of 97.8 (92.3-99.7)% and NPV of 99.5 (98.1-99.9)%. Area under receiver operating curve was 0.83 for CDS, compared to 0.81 for EDS. In a national cohort, the EDS has high sensitivity and NPV as a triage tool for UGI cancer. The CDS offers even higher diagnostic accuracy. The EDS or CDS should be incorporated into the urgent suspected UGI cancer pathway.

Women in gastroenterology: the UK trainee experience

IntroductionCompared with other medical specialties, there are lower numbers of female trainees and lower rates of flexible working in gastroenterology. This study aims to examine the experience of male and...

384 Local Closed Loop Audit: COVID-19 Screening Before Endoscopic Ultrasound

AimEndoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) is one of the important diagnostic tests in patients with probable hepatobiliary or lung diseases. As it is an airborne procedure and due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, British Society of Gastroenterology and NICE guidelines have stated that patients who are undergoing EUS must be tested for COVID-19 within 3 days before the procedure. EUS must be considered deferring if the patient tests positive. The aim of this audit is to increase the proportion of patients being swabbed within 3 days/72 hours of the procedure to > 90% by the end of 2021.MethodA list of patients who underwent elective EUS in January (initial audit) and mid-May to mid-June (re-audit) were collected using Endosoft software. Afterwards, electronic patient record system was checked for the date of the COVID-19 swab and its results. This data was then recorded in a password-protected Excel spreadsheet and the proportion of the patients meeting the standard was calculated.ResultsThe results of the initial audit indicated that although 95.7% of swabs were done within 3 days of the procedure, only 40.9% were done within 72 hours. These results were discussed at a mortality and morbidity meeting, and recommendations were. Hence, in the re-audit, 98.4% of the swabs were done within 3 days of the procedure and the percentage of swabs being done within 72 hours increased to 95.2%.ConclusionsThe target of increasing the proportion of patients being swabbed within 3 days/72 hours of the EUS procedure to > 90% was met in mid-2021.

43 The Value of Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) in the Investigative Pathway of Acute Idiopathic Pancreatitis (AIP)

Abstract Introduction The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines on the management of acute idiopathic pancreatitis (AIP) state the incidence of idiopathic cases to be no more than 30%. However, before a firm diagnosis of AIP is made, Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) may be used to determine occult causes. This approach may help prevent recurrent attacks which may evolve into chronic pancreatitis. Method Retrospective analysis over a one-year period of cases of AIP in a tertiary referral centre was performed to see the incidence of AIP and the role of EUS. Patients with an identifiable cause for pancreatitis were excluded, leaving only those who had received a diagnosis of AIP and the diagnostic value of EUS was examined. Results Of the 101 patients diagnosed with AIP, 19% (n=19) underwent an EUS successfully. 79% (n=15) had no underlying cause of pancreatitis identified on EUS. In the remaining 21% of cases (n=4), microlithiasis, ductal stones, and pus requiring drainage were common findings. Of these patents, only 1 was referred for surgery. In the patient group with negative findings on EUS, 4% were unaffected, 2% were referred for surgery, 2% died and 7% had recurrent episodes of pancreatitis. Conclusions The results of this study show that EUS is a valuable modality in patients with suspected AIP, with a positive diagnostic rate of 21%. Therefore, we propose EUS needs to be included in the investigative pathway of all suspected AIP. Although EUS is a relatively scarce resource, further research is required to establish guidelines for the investigation of suspected AIP.

Germline variant testing in serrated polyposis syndrome.

Background and AimSerrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) is now known to be the commonest polyposis syndrome. Previous analyses for germline variants have shown no consistent positive findings. To exclude other polyposis syndromes, 2019 British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines advise gene panel testing if the patient is under 50 years, there are multiple affected individuals within a family, or there is dysplasia within any of the polyps.MethodsA database of SPS patients was established at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Patients were referred for genetic assessment based on personal and family history and patient preference. The majority were tested for a hereditary colorectal cancer panel including MUTYH, APC, PTEN, SMAD4, BMPR1A, STK11, NTLH1, POLD1, POLE, GREM1 (40‐kb duplication), PMS2, and Lynch syndrome mismatch repair genes.ResultsOne hundred and seventy‐three patients were diagnosed with SPS based on World Health Organization 2019 criteria between February 2010 and December 2020. The mean age of diagnosis was 54.2 ± 16.8 years. Seventy‐three patients underwent genetic testing and 15/73 (20.5%) were found to have germline variants, of which 7/73 (9.6%) had a pathogenic variant (MUTYH n = 2, SMAD4 n = 1, CHEK2 n = 2, POLD1 n = 1, and RNF43 n = 1). Only 60% (9/15) of these patients would have been recommended for gene panel testing according to current BSG guidelines.ConclusionsA total of 20.5% of SPS patients tested were affected by heterozygous germline variants, including previously unreported associations with CHEK2 and POLD1. This led to a change in management in seven patients (9.6%). Current recommendations may miss SPS associated with germline variants, which is more common than previously anticipated.

N06 Assessing stakeholder identified barriers and enablers to Ultrasound implementation for assessment of Crohn’s Disease in the UK: A qualitative interview study

Abstract Background Data from the METRIC trial (PMID:29914843) has shown that small bowel ultrasound (US) has very good diagnostic accuracy for disease extent, presence and activity in Crohn’s Disease, is well tolerated by patients and is cheaper when compared to MRI. A recent survey (unpublished) undertaken by the authors via the British Society of Gastroenterology indicated that there is enthusiasm for the use of US in IBD care in the UK. However, uptake of US in the UK is limited, however it is unclear why this is the case. Methods A qualitative semi-structured interview study, utilising template analysis using the Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) codebook, was undertaken. NPT was used to guide the analysis framing the findings in relation to the implementation processes related to integrating US into daily IBD care. Interviews were undertaken utilising virtual meeting software. Results Fourteen participants were enrolled in the interview study (table #). Participants were enrolled between 02/06/2021-and 06/09/2021, with interviews taking place during the same time period. Enrolled were three patients living with CD (21.4%), two IBD Nurse specialists (14.3%), two IBD Nurse consultants (14.3%), one surgical IBD nurse specialist (7.1%), two consultant gastroenterologists (14.3%), two consultant radiologists (14.3%) and two gastroenterology service managers (14.3%). Participants reported that perceived barriers included reliance on MRI and established care pathways, reluctance to change, lack of trust in US in relation to perceived lack of precision when compared to MRI and the initial financial and time outlay in establishing a US service (buying equipment and training staff). Participants were enthusiastic for the uptake of US and discussed enablers to US uptake being the benefits to patients in terms of reduction in waiting times and earlier diagnosis and treatment allocation (leading to improved clinical outcomes), reduced hospital appointments, reduced costs to the NHS, patients having better understanding of their health and improvements in the therapeutic relationships between patients and healthcare professionals. Conclusion There is an enthusiasm to establish and utilise US in IBD care in the UK, however there are perceived barriers in achieving this. There is scant literature to effectively assess these reported barriers and enablers. Therefore there is further research required in the areas of the impact of the use of US on the confidence of clinical decision making of healthcare professionals and the relative cost effectiveness when compared to MRI use for the assessment of IBD in the UK.

Survey on the perceptions of UK gastroenterologists and endoscopists to artificial intelligence

Background and aimsWith the potential integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into clinical practice, it is essential to understand end users’ perception of this novel technology. The aim of this study,...

A high-volume ERCP service led by surgeons is associated with good outcomes and meets national key performance indicators: results from a British district general hospital.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a common, but technically challenging procedure used in the management of hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) disease. It is traditionally performed by medical gastroenterologists. In 2014, the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) proposed key performance indicators to evaluate and set standards of ERCP practice. This study aimed to compare our ERCP outcomes against these targets, in a centre where ERCP is exclusively performed by surgeons. A retrospective analysis of all ERCPs undertaken over a 38months in a District General Hospital in the United Kingdom (UK), by three Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons. Study outcomes were based upon, and compared against, BSG key performance indicators, including number of ERCPs per annum, proportion of successful cannulations of bile duct and stone clearance, ERCP-specific complications and mortality. The unit's caseload over this period was 1324, equating to approximately 418 per annum (BSG minimum 200 per unit). Management of bile duct stones was the commonest indication for ERCP. Overall, 95% (1253/1324) of bile ducts were cannulated and 92% (645/698) for those undergoing their first ERCP. Bile duct clearance was achieved in 80% of patients (BSG recommend > 75%) and the successful stenting of extra-hepatic strictures in 94% (BSG recommend > 80%). The overall complication rate was 4.3% (BSG standard < 6%). Procedure-specific mortality was 0.3% (4/1324) where death was either caused by pancreatitis or sepsis. A high-volume ERCP service led and performed exclusively by surgeons meets all BSG performance indicators, with good procedural and patient outcomes. Formal training pathways should be developed to encourage more surgical centres to provide an ERCP service and deal with what are common surgical pathologies.

UK Joint Advisory Group consensus statements for training and certification in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Background and study aims Despite the high-risk nature of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a robust and standardized credentialing process to ensure competency before independent practice is lacking worldwide. On behalf of the Joint Advisory Group (JAG), we aimed to develop evidence-based recommendations to form the framework of ERCP training and certification in the UK. Methods Under the oversight of the JAG, a modified Delphi process was conducted with stakeholder representation from the British Society of Gastroenterology, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, trainees and trainers. Recommendations on ERCP training and certification were formulated after formal literature review and appraised using the GRADE tool. These were subjected to electronic voting to achieve consensus. Accepted statements were peer-reviewed by JAG and relevant Specialist Advisory Committees before incorporation into the ERCP certification pathway. Results In total, 27 recommendation statements were generated for the following domains: definition of competence (9 statements), acquisition of competence (8 statements), assessment of competence (6 statements) and post-certification support (4 statements). The consensus process led to the following criteria for ERCP certification: 1) performing ≥ 300 hands-on procedures; 2) attending a JAG-accredited ERCP skills course; 3) in modified Schutz 1–2 procedures: achieving native papilla cannulation rate ≥80%, complete bile duct clearance ≥ 70 %, successful stenting of distal biliary strictures ≥ 75 %, physically unassisted in ≥ 80 % of cases; 4) 30-day post-ERCP pancreatitis rates ≤5 %; and 5) satisfactory performance in formative and summative direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) assessments. Conclusions JAG certification in ERCP has been developed following evidence-based consensus to quality assure training and to ultimately improve future standards of ERCP practice.

P-BN12 Impact of covid-19 on ugi (upper gastrointestinal) tract stenting and dilatation services- prioritise, keep scoping and training

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected endoscopy services including therapeutic gastroscopy across the UK. The BSG (British Society of Gastroenterology) issued guidance for managing endoscopy services safely throughout this period. At the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, a symptom-based questionnaire was used to screen patients for COVID-19 prior to their endoscopic procedures in our hospital (COVID-19 swabs were only carried out if patients presented with COVID-19 symptoms). From 18 May 2020 onwards, in addition to the above approach, all patients attending endoscopic procedures underwent a SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab 1-3 days prior to the procedure. We describe our experience of UGI stenting and dilatation during the initial wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. AimsTo assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on technical and clinical success of luminal dilatation and stenting in the UGI tract and ascertain the risk of procedure related complications.MethodsA retrospective audit of a prospectively maintained endoscopy database was carried out between 18th March and 31st July. All patients were followed for 30 days. Full PPE were used.Results42 procedures [31 were oesophageal dilatation (21 peptic stricture, 9 radiotherapy stricture, 1 achalasia), 8 oesophageal stent insertion (6 for primary oesophageal cancer, 1 metastatic cancer and 1 secondary to external compression from lung cancer) and 3 pyloric dilatation all benign] were carried out-mean age 65 years, 64.3% males, 81% of procedures were carried out as outpatients. All procedures were performed under fluoroscopy. 41/42(97.6%) patients had a confirmed histology prior to their procedure – one patient who underwent oesophageal dilatation had a peptic stricture on endoscopy (no biopsy or imaging). 39/42(92.9%) patients had undergone CT scan and/or barium swallow prior to their first procedure. All procedures were technically and clinically successful (100%).There were no procedure related complications or mortality. There were no COVID positive swabs in the 30-day post procedure period during the entire study period. Trainees were present in 21/42 (50%) of the procedures. None of the endoscopists who were involved with these procedures were diagnosed with COVID-19 during this period. One of the nursing staff, who regularly assisted in the fluoroscopy room, was involved in a non-fluoroscopic endoscopic procedure in a COVID-19 patient (not known at the time of the procedure) and subsequently tested positive. ConclusionsOur study confirms that a high quality stenting and dilatation service of the upper gastrointestinal tract together with specialist registrar training can be delivered safely and effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic in appropriately prioritised symptomatic patients.

P-EUS02 The value of Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) in the investigative pathway of Acute Idiopathic Pancreatitis (AIP)

Abstract Background The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines on the management of acute idiopathic pancreatitis (AIP) state the incidence of idiopathic cases to be no more than 30%. However, before a firm diagnosis of AIP is made, Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) may be used to determine occult causes. This approach may help prevent recurrent attacks which may evolve into chronic pancreatitis. Methods Retrospective analysis over a one-year period of cases of AIP in a tertiary referral center was performed to see the incidence of AIP and the role of EUS. Patients with an identifiable cause for pancreatitis were excluded, leaving only those who had received a diagnosis of AIP and the diagnostic value of EUS was examined. Results Of the 101 patients diagnosed with AIP, 19% (n = 19) underwent an EUS succesfully. 79% (n = 15) had no underlying cause of pancreatitis identified on EUS. In the remaining 21% of cases (n = 4), microlithiasis, ductal stones, and pus requiring drainage were common findings. Of these patents, only 1 was referred for surgery. In the patient group with negative findings on EUS, 4% were unaffected, 2% were refered for surgery, 2% died and 7% had recurrent episodes of pancreatitis. Conclusions The results of this study show that EUS is a valuable modality in patients with suspected AIP, with a positive diagnostic rate of 21%. Therefore, we propose EUS needs to be included in the investigative pathway of all suspected AIP. Although EUS is a relatively scarce resource, further research is required to establish guidelines for the investigation of suspected AIP.

P-EGS01 Cholecystectomy after gall stone pancreatitis

Abstract Background According to the UK guidelines for the management of acute pancreatitis commissioned by the British Society of Gastroenterology, All patients presenting with gallstone pancreatitis should be considered for cholecystectomy when they are well enough to undergo surgery. In cases of mild biliary pancreatitis, cholecystectomy should ideally be performed during the index admission or within 2 weeks of discharge as interval cholecystectomy is associated with a significant risk of readmission for recurrent biliary events. In cases of severe gallstone pancreatitis, cholecystectomy may need to be delayed until collections have improved, unless the patient is well enough for surgery and the gallbladder is some distance from the collection Methods Methods Inclusion Criteria Exclusion Criteria Results 80 patients were collected during the study period, 96 % of them were classified as mild pancreatitis Cholecystectomy rate Total percentage of cholecystectomies performed for mild gall stone pancreatitis during index admission or within 2 weeks from discharge : 37% Percentage of early cholecystectomies for eligible patients (i.e.after ruling out unfit patients, patients declining treatment, previous cholecystectomy..etc) : 54% Re-admission rate Re-admission rate for early cholecystectomy patients : 7.4% Re-admission rate for delayed cholecystectomy patients : 20.7% Conclusions

P-OGC38 The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Barrett’s Oesophagus and Oesophago-gastric Cancer

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has placed an inexorable strain on endoscopy services worldwide, affecting the diagnosis of oesophago-gastric (OG) cancer and Barrett’s oesophagus (BO). As coronavirus infection rates rose many professional bodies advised that all endoscopy, except emergency and essential procedures be stopped immediately. We sought to quantify the decline in OG cancer and BO diagnoses following implementation of British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidance related to COVID-19 and the psychosocial effects on BO patients.MethodsWe examined OG cancer and BO diagnoses in Northern Ireland from March-September 2020 and compared them with the three-year average number of patients during the same time period (corresponding to weeks 10-37) between 2017-2019 by utilising Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR) data. The psychosocial impact of COVID-19 was assessed using an online survey, which included validated WHOQOL-BREF and EQ-5D-5L quality of life measures, and was completed by 24 BO patients from April-May 2020.ResultsBetween March and September 2020 in Northern Ireland, the proportion of OG cancer and BO diagnoses declined by 26.6% and 59.3%, respectively, compared to expected levels. In April, BO diagnoses fell by 95.5% but by September, whilst OG cancer rates had returned to baseline, BO cases remained supressed by approximately 20%. We estimate that these declines in diagnosis represent 53 ‘missed’ OG cancer and 236 ‘missed’ BO diagnoses. In the online survey sample, BO patients reported consistently lower quality of life scores than population norms, and highlighted a number of concerns with regard to their health and care.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an abrupt decline in OG cancer and BO diagnoses and has profoundly impacted the wellbeing of BO patients. Our study represents the first report of the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis of BO. Strategies to mitigate the ongoing effects of the pandemic are urgently required to preserve the ability to rapidly detect and diagnose cancer and pre-malignant conditions.

P-P16 Management of acute pancreatitis in a busy district general hospital

Abstract Background Pancreatitis is a common surgical presentation and can be life threatening, with complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and necrosis occurring. Due to high hospital incidence, it is important to ensure patients are managed appropriately using available guidelines. This audit aims to assess the management of acute pancreatitis in a busy district general hospital and identify areas for improvement to better patient safety. Methods Only cases of acute pancreatitis were used in this audit. Case notes for the period between October and December 2020 were collected respectively. A data collection proforma was created using guidelines from the British society of gastroenterology for the management of acute pancreatitis. Data was then analysed using Excel. Results 23% of cases had documented scoring, with Glasgow-Imrie the only scoring tool used. 41% had documented oxygen saturation. 33% had been reviewed by alcohol liaison team for pancreatitis secondary to high alcohol consumption. No patients were given the guideline’s recommended rate of fluid resuscitation (5-10ml/kg/hr). All patients had amylase/lipase in their blood profile. 80% of patients had antiemetics prescribed should they require them, whilst 95% of patients had opioids prescribed for analgesia. 50% of patients were given antibiotics despite them not being indicated. 18% were kept nil by mouth (NBM) whilst having abdominal pain. Conclusions Our results suggest that guidelines for acute pancreatitis are not adequately adhered to. Many aspects of the guidance were not followed including documentation of oxygen saturation, antibiotic use, IV fluid resuscitation and alcohol liaison review for patients who required review. We have developed a proforma to use for the management of acute pancreatitis to ensure that cases are managed in accordance with evidence-based literature and to make the management of these cases easier. We will reaudit to analyse the effects of our intervention and determine whether there has been an improvement in the management of acute pancreatitis.