[Real-world Management of Acute Pancreatitis in Germany - Results of a Nationwide Survey Among Gastroenterology Hospitals].

BACKGROUND

There are no current data on real-world management of acute pancreatitis in German hospitals. The ALGK (Working Group of Leading Hospital Gastroenterologists) initiated a survey to assess acute pancreatitis management structures and quality, especially focusing on hypertriglyceridemia (HTG)-associated pancreatitis.

METHODS

From June to September 2024, 281 hospitals with a focus on gastroenterology were surveyed online regarding 16 important aspects of acute pancreatitis management.

RESULTS

95 hospitals participated (response rate 33.8%); 77.9% treat ≥20 patients with acute pancreatitis annually. Despite good structural prerequisites (e.g., central emergency department; endoscopy on-call service; availability of endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and abdominal computer tomography (24/7)), mainly process deficits in disease management were identified: Only 60% have standardized protocols for acute pancreatitis, and only 57.9% routinely measure triglycerides at admission. Follow-up care is inadequate and recommended in only approximately one third of cases. For HTG pancreatitis with very high triglyceride levels, 79% of hospitals recommend referral to specialized lipid clinics.

CONCLUSION

Management of acute pancreatitis in Germany shows gaps in implementing S3 guideline recommendations. Standardized protocols and improved follow-up concepts could enhance quality of care and reduce recurrence rates.