Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Obstetrics

Background:

• Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a rare complication during pregnancy, occurring in approximately 3 in 10,000 pregnancies.
• AP in pregnancy presents a spectrum from mild to severe, potentially involving necrosis and organ dysfunction.
• Physiological changes in pregnancy complicate the diagnosis and severity assessment of AP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the challenges and advancements in diagnosing and managing acute pancreatitis during pregnancy.
• To highlight the impact of pregnancy on AP presentation and interpretation of diagnostic tests.
• To emphasize the improved prognosis of AP in pregnancy with modern gastroenterological interventions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on AP in pregnancy.
• Analysis of diagnostic advancements in gastroenterology.
• Evaluation of therapeutic modalities for biliary pancreatitis.

Main Results:

• Pregnancy-related alterations affect diagnostic test interpretation and severity assessment.
• Modern diagnostic tools like endoscopic ultrasound and MRCP aid in early detection.
• Therapeutic options including ERCP, stenting, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy have improved management.

Conclusions:

• Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy requires careful consideration due to dual patient impact.
• Advances in diagnostic and therapeutic gastroenterology have significantly improved outcomes.
• Properly managed AP in pregnancy no longer carries a historically dismal prognosis.