Contemporary Intervention in Necrotizing Pancreatitis: Improved Understanding Changing Practice

Treatment of necrotizing pancreatitis (NP) has shifted in favor of a minimally invasive step-up approach rather than early open pancreatic debridement. We hypothesized that this paradigm shift would be reflected in the intervention, morbidity, and mortality profile of NP patients.

Single-institution retrospective review of 767 NP patients treated between 2005 and 2019. Two eras of NP intervention were identified relative to the introduction of a minimally invasive approach to NP. Patients treated between 2005 and 2010 were classified as the "early" group and compared with patients treated between 2011 and 2019, classified as the "late" group.

In total, 299 NP patients comprised the early group and 468 patients comprised the late group. No differences were seen in patient demographics, comorbidity profile, or NP etiology between groups. Necrosis volume, necrosis location, CT severity index (CTSI), and rates of infected necrosis were similar between groups. No difference was seen in mortality. Mechanical intervention for NP was more common in the early than the late group (86% vs. 73%, p < 0.001). Time to first intervention was similar between groups (79 ± 7d vs. 75 ± 6d). The early group had higher rates of open pancreatic debridement (72% vs. 55%, p < 0.001). Endoscopic intervention was less common in the early than the late group (7% vs. 16%, p < 0.001). NP disease duration was longer in the early than the late group (223 ± 12d vs. 179 ± 7d, p = 0.001).

Contemporary management of necrotizing pancreatitis is marked by less frequent operative debridement and shorter disease duration.