[Diagnostic criteria and their relation to prognosis in acute pancreatitis]

Investigations were carried out in 1041 consecutive patients of acute pancreatitis, to correlate the prognosis with their symptoms and signs. It has been found that there were 15 symptoms and signs may be related to their prognosis; that is age over 60, high intake of fatty food immediately before attack, severe upper abdominal pain with vomiting, pulse rate over 100/min, pulse pressure below 2.6 kPa, peritoneal irritation, absence of peristaltic sounds, bloody ascites, serum electrolytes disorder, acidosis, more than 4000 ml of fluid were needed in first 24 h, serum calcium level below 1.9 mmol/L, blood glucose over 8.3 mmol/L, BUN over 7.0 mmol/L, and poor liver functions. If there are less than 4 positive signs, edematous pancreatitis may be present, 5 to 8 positive signs may be necrotizing pancreatitis with high risk of mortality and early operation is indicated, and more than 8 positive signs the prognosis will be very poor.