Gastrointestinal Failure Is a Predictor of Poor Outcome in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis

Although gastrointestinal dysfunction is common in patients with acute pancreatitis, its impact on the outcome of disease has not been adequately studied. The present study was conducted to study the frequency of gastrointestinal failure (GIF) as well as its effect on outcome in patients with acute pancreatitis.

Patients with acute pancreatitis admitted in our unit were prospectively studied. Gastrointestinal dysfunction and intra-abdominal pressures were measured daily till their resolution, and gastrointestinal failure score was calculated. Baseline parameters including various severity scores were noted. The patients were followed till clinical recovery or death.

Sixty-four patients (mean age 41.52 ± 16.28 years; 45 (70.3%) males) were prospectively studied. Forty-five (70.3%) patients had severe disease, and 18 (28.1%) patients succumbed to illness. GIF was present in 31 (48.4%) patients. The median duration of GIF was 5 (range 1-20) days. The presence of GIF was significantly associated with mortality (p value < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, the presence of GIF [OR 10.6 (95% CI 1.97-57.04)] and duration of ICU stay [OR 1.08 (95% CI 1.015-1.15)] were found to be independent predictors of mortality.

Gastrointestinal failure is an important organ failure in patients with acute pancreatitis and is an independent predictor of mortality. Incorporation of gastrointestinal failure scores in dynamic assessment of patients with acute pancreatitis could help us in better stratifying severity of patients and predicting outcome.