OUTCOME OF CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT IN ACUTE PANCREATITIS

Acute Pancreatitis

Abstract

Objective: This study was done to evaluate the patients of acute pancreatitis managed conservatively and to review the findings of investigations. 
Study Design: A descriptive study. 
Place and Duration of Study:  This study was done in Combined Military and Military Hospital Rawalpindi from Nov 2004 to March 2005. 
Patients and Methods: This study was carried out from Nov 2004 to March 2005. All Patients presenting with acute abdominal pain and subsequently diagnosed as acute pancreatitis were included in this study.  After history general physical and systemic examination was done. All relevant biochemical tests keeping in view Ranson’s criteria were carried out. Patients were managed in surgical intensive therapy centre with broad-spectrum antibiotics, somatostatin analogues, intravenous crystalloid infusions, proton pump inhibitor and analgesics. All patients were monitored for complications if any. They were kept hospitalized till their serum amylase level was normal and they were asymptomatic on oral feeding. 
Results: Ten (33%) of the patients were females and 20(67%) were males. Majority of the patients were between 31 years to 60 years of age. All of them presented with pain epigastrium, 23 (77%) had fever, 21 (70%) had vomiting. Twenty one (70%) had TLC above 16000/mm3. Serum amylase was raised four times in 30 (100%). While on CT scan abdomen swelling of pancreas was seen in 17 (57%), peripancreatic fluid in 9 (30%) 
Conclusion: The treatment of acute pancreatitis is primarily conservative. Conservative management results in low rate of complications, mortality and cost, therefore conservative management should be the first option in treatment of acute pancreatitis.