Defined, low threshold for caesarean section and multidisciplinary team management improves fetal outcome from acute pancreatitis in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy (APIP) is associated with increased maternal and fetal mortality.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine whether a low threshold for cesarean section (C-section) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) or Predict SAP improves maternal and fetal outcomes in patients with APIP.

METHODS

We identified patients with APIP at a single institution from a prospective database and studied fetal and maternal health in APIP before (2005-2014) and after (2015-2019) introduction of multidisciplinary team management with a defined, lowered threshold for C-section. The primary end point was fetal mortality comprising abortion and perinatal death. Risk factors associated with fetal mortality were analyzed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 165 patients with APIP were eligible for analysis. There was a highly significant increase in patients undergoing C-section from 37 (30.8%) of 120 during 2005-2014 to 27 (60%) of 45 in 2015-2019 (P = 0.001), with a highly significant fall in fetal mortality from 37 (30.8%) of 120 to 3 (6.7%) of 45 between the same periods (P = 0.001), when maternal mortality fell from 6 to zero (P = 0.19). Maternal early systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (odds ratio [OR] 6.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53, 30.80, P = 0.01) and SAP (OR 3.64, 95%CI 1.25, 10.60, P = 0.02) were two independent risk factors associated with fetal mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Multidisciplinary collaboration and a defined, low threshold for C-section improve fetal outcomes in patients with APIP.