Clinical management and outcomes of acute pancreatitis: Identifying areas for quality improvement in a tertiary Asian setting

Abstract

Background: This study aims to review the clinical management of patients with acute pancreatitis in a tertiary institute in Singapore, and to identify areas qualiy improvement based on validation against the recommendations in the IAP/APA and the Japanese guidelines.

Methods: 391 patients from a prospective electronic database were included and reviewed for compliance to the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP)/American Pancreatic Association (APA) guidelines (2013) and the Japanase Guidelines (2015).

Results: The 90 day mortality was 8.4% for moderately severe and 11.9% for severe pancreatitis. The accuracy of SIRS in predicting severe acute pancreatitis on admission was 72.1% and at 48 h 80.8%. Only 61.1% patients had ultrasound scan during their admission of whom 32.9% had it within 24 h of admission. 18.3% patients with initial diagnosis of idiopathic pancreatitis had EUS. 50% received Ringer lactate for initial fluid resuscitation. 38.7% received antibiotics as prophylaxis. 21.4% with severe acute pancreatitis had early enteral nutrition. Only 21.4% patients with biliary pancreatitis had index admission cholecystectomy.

Conclusion: The compliance to existing guidelines for management of acute pancreatitis is variable. Identifying gaps and implementing measures to address them allows for continued improvement in the management of patients with acute pancreatitis.

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Audit; Compliance; Management; Outcomes.