Hospital mortality rate and predictors in acute pancreatitis in Poland: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND

Despite advances in medicine, acute pancreatitis remains a disorder that is associated with a high mortality rate. The objective of this study was to analyze in-hospital mortality in patients hospitalized with acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

A prospective analysis of patients hospitalized with acute pancreatitis in a single surgical center was performed. Etiological factors, concomitant diseases, age, and intensive care unit treatment status were assessed to determine their impact on the cause and time of patient death. In addition, conventional laboratory tests performed in the emergency ward were evaluated for their potential as predictors of mortality.

RESULTS

The study included 476 (n) patients hospitalized with acute pancreatitis in a single surgical center. The presentations included mild disease in 261 (54.8%) patients, moderate disease in 132 (27.7%) patients, and severe disease in 83 (17.5%) patients. The overall mortality rate was 7.14% (n = 34), including 41% in the severe disease group. The mean and median hospitalization times for these patients were 13.9 and 7 days, respectively. Respiratory failure is the main cause of patient death.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute pancreatitis remains one of the most common gastroenterological diseases that may lead to death. Acute pancreatitis-related respiratory failure is the most common cause of death among patients with alcohol etiology of the disease. Moreover, the mortality rate was higher among older patients. Therefore, actions should be taken to discover prognostic factors of the severe form and initiate appropriate treatment.