Rate of recurrence in Indian patients presenting with acute pancreatitis and identification of chronicity on follow up: Possible risk factors for progression

A Retrospective Study of Predictors for Readmission in Patients With Acute Pancreatitis

Patients with acute pancreatitis usually recover within a few weeks. Resumption of exposure to risk factors results in the recurrence of pancreatitis and readmission. This study aimed to identify the predictors of readmission among acute pancreatitis patients. A retrospective study design was adopted where the medical records of patients admitted with acute pancreatitis between January 2019 and December 2020 were included. To determine the predictors for readmission, tools such as demographics, clinical proforma, and checklists on predictors of readmission were utilized. The data were analyzed using descriptive (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (logistic regression). The readmission rate among adults with acute pancreatitis was 36%. Most of the patients belonged to the age group of 36-55 years. The predominant risk factors identified causing acute pancreatitis were alcohol abuse, gallstones, and idiopathic factors. A higher rate of readmission was seen in alcoholic acute pancreatitis (60.9%) and patients with moderately severe acute pancreatitis (56.1%). At index admission, 30.9% of patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus, 38.7% were alcohol dependent, 41.3% had peripancreatic collection, 12.2% had pseudocyst, and 13% had walled-off necrosis. These factors were the predictors for readmission in patients with acute pancreatitis. A focus on the predictors of readmission with early interventions that prevent complications during the index admission may reduce the risk of readmission in acute pancreatitis.

Recurrence rates and risk factors for recurrence after first episode of acute pancreatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There are a certain number of acute pancreatitis (AP) patients who may suffer from multiple episodes and develop recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP), but recurrence rates and associated risk factors for RAP vary significantly in the published literature.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases to identify all publications reporting AP recurrence until October 20th, 2022. Meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed to calculate the pooled estimates using the random-effects model.

RESULTS

A total of 36 studies met the inclusion criteria and all were used in pooled analyses. The overall rate of recurrence after first-time AP was 21% (95% CI, 18%- 24%), and pooled rates in biliary, alcoholic, idiopathic, and hypertriglyceridemia etiology patients were 12%, 30%, 25%, and 30%, respectively. After managing underlying causes post-discharge, the recurrence rate decreased (14% versus 4% for biliary, 30% versus 6% for alcoholic, and 30% versus 22% for hypertriglyceridemia AP). An increased risk of recurrence was reported in patients with a smoking history (odds ratio [OR] = 1.99), alcoholic etiology (OR = 1.72), male sex (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.63), and local complications (HR = 3.40), while biliary etiology was associated with lower recurrence rates (OR = 0.38).

CONCLUSION

More than one-fifth of AP patients experienced recurrence after discharge, with the highest recurrence rate in alcoholic and hypertriglyceridemia etiologies, and managing underlying causes post-discharge was related to decreased incidence. In addition, smoking history, alcoholic etiology, male gender, and presence of local complications were independent risks for the recurrence.

Assessment of the course of acute pancreatitis in the light of aetiology: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The main causes of acute pancreatitis (AP) are biliary disease, alcohol consumption, hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of these aetiological factors on the severity and outcome of AP. Pubmed and Embase were searched between 01/01/2012 and 31/05/2020. Included articles involved adult alcoholic, biliary, HTG- or post-ERCP AP (PAP) patients. Primary outcome was severity, secondary outcomes were organ failures, intensive care unit admission, recurrence rate, pancreatic necrosis, mortality, length of hospital stay, pseudocyst, fluid collection and systematic inflammatory response syndrome. Data were analysed from 127 eligible studies. The risk for non-mild (moderately severe and severe) condition was the highest in HTG-induced AP (HTG-AP) followed by alcoholic AP (AAP), biliary AP (BAP) and PAP. Recurrence rate was significantly lower among BAP vs. HTG-AP or AAP patients (OR = 2.69 and 2.98, 95% CI 1.55-4.65 and 2.22-4.01, respectively). Mortality rate was significantly greater in HTG-AP vs. AAP or BAP (OR = 1.72 and 1.50, 95% CI 1.04-2.84 and 0.96-2.35, respectively), pancreatic necrosis occurred more frequently in AAP than BAP patients (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.08-2.30). Overall, there is a potential association between aetiology and the development and course of AP. HTG-AP is associated with the highest number of complications. Furthermore, AAP is likely to be more severe than BAP or PAP. Greater emphasis should be placed on determining aetiology on admission.

Pancreatoduodenectomy for Periampullary Tumors Presenting with Acute Pancreatitis

Background

Periampullary tumors (PT) may rarely present as acute pancreatitis (AP) or acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP). Unlike other cases of AP and ARP, these conditions necessitate pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), and timely diagnosis is crucial. Materials and Methods. A retrospective review of clinical, radiological, surgical, and pathological data was conducted for patients admitted to the Binzhou Medical University Hospital during the period from January 2010 to December 2017, for AP or ARP caused by PT. All patients included in the study group had undergone PD. The perioperative data for these patients was compared with data for patients with PT but without AP or ARP who underwent PD during the same period (control group).

Results

During the study period, 412 patients with AP or ARP were treated; among this group, 15 patients had PT. Compared with controls, patients in the study group were younger in age and had a longer course of disease, more frequent hospitalizations, and more severe derangements in laboratory data (P < 0.05). Operative time and intraoperative blood loss were significantly higher in the study group, but the incidence of postoperative outcomes such as pancreatic/biliary fistula, abdominal infection, postoperative hospital stay, and mortality were similar between groups (P < 0.05). Operative time and intraoperative blood loss were significantly higher in the study group, but the incidence of postoperative outcomes such as pancreatic/biliary fistula, abdominal infection, postoperative hospital stay, and mortality were similar between groups (

Conclusions

Neither AP nor ARP has any adverse impact on the outcomes of PD. However, in the treatment of younger patients suffering from AP or ARP, unexplained pancreatic duct dilation and weight loss should raise the suspicion of PT. EUS and EUS-FNA may be helpful in making the diagnosis.

Characterisation of the fibroinflammatory process involved in progression from acute to chronic pancreatitis: study protocol for a multicentre, prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is thought to present the end stage of a continuous disease process evolving from acute pancreatitis (AP), over recurrent AP, to early and end-stage CP. Due to the irreversible nature of CP, early detection and prevention is key. Prospective assessment based on advanced imaging modalities as well as biochemical markers of inflammation, fibrosis and oxidative stress may provide a better understanding of the underlying pathological processes and help identify novel biomarkers of disease with the ultimate goal of early diagnosis, intervention and prevention of disease progression. This paper describes the protocol of a prospective multicentre cohort study investigating the fibroinflammatory process involved in progression from acute to CP using state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging modalities and circulating biomarkers of inflammation, fibrosis and oxidative stress.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Adult control subjects and patients at different stages of CP according to the M-ANNHEIM system will be recruited from outpatient clinics at the participating sites and form three cohorts: controls (n=40), suspected CP (n=60) and definitive CP (n=60). Included patients will be followed prospectively for 15 years with advanced MRI and contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound with elastography, assessment of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function, biochemical and nutritional assessment, and evaluation of pain processing using quantitative sensory testing. Blood samples for a biobank will be obtained. The purpose of the biobank is to allow analyses of potential circulating biomarkers of disease progression, including markers of inflammation, fibrosis and oxidative stress.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Permissions from the Regional Science Ethics committee and the Regional Data Protection Agency have been obtained. We will submit the results of the study for publication in peer-reviewed journals regardless of whether the results are positive, negative or inconclusive.