Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2025
Robotic Lateral Pancreaticojejunostomy for Chronic Pancreatitis
Published on: December 14, 2019
Acute Pancreatitis in Jordanian Children: A Single Center Experience
Belal Al Droubi1, Eyad Altamimi2
1Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Insights
Pediatric pancreatitis is increasingly diagnosed, with anatomical abnormalities being the leading cause in children. Serum lipase is a more sensitive diagnostic marker than serum amylase for acute pancreatitis in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Hepatology
- Pancreatology
Background:
- Pediatric pancreatitis is increasingly recognized, with distinct differences in etiology, presentation, and prognosis compared to adults.
- The condition can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in children when severe.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical characteristics, etiology, and outcomes of acute pancreatitis in a pediatric cohort.
- To compare the diagnostic utility of serum lipase and amylase in pediatric pancreatitis.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study of 64 episodes of acute pancreatitis in children at a tertiary care hospital.
- Analysis of clinical presentation, diagnostic tests (serum amylase, lipase, abdominal ultrasound), and etiologies.
Main Results:
- Abdominal pain was the predominant symptom (97%), though classical pancreatitis features were less common.
- Serum lipase demonstrated higher sensitivity (98%) than serum amylase (67%) for diagnosis.
- Anatomical abnormalities (29%), idiopathic causes (21%), and biliary issues (21%) were the most frequent etiologies.
Conclusions:
- Serum lipase is a superior diagnostic marker for pediatric acute pancreatitis compared to serum amylase.
- Congenital biliary-pancreatic abnormalities are the primary cause of acute pancreatitis in children, often leading to recurrent episodes.
- Pancreatic pseudocysts occurred in 16.7% of cases, with nearly half requiring intervention.
Background:
There is still much to understand and discover regarding pediatric pancreatitis. The etiology, clinical presentation, and prognosis of pancreatitis differs considerably between young children and adults. The incidence of pancreatitis has been increasing; it is no longer as rare in children as previously thought and could cause significant morbidity and mortality when severe.
Methods:
In this retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Jordan, we present a cohort of children with 64 episodes of acute pancreatitis.
Results:
While abdominal pain was the most common presenting complaint in our cohort (97%), the classical features of radiation to the back and relief by the forward-lean position were observed in only one-third of our patients. Compared to serum amylase, serum lipase had a higher sensitivity for detecting pancreatitis (98 vs. 67%). Abdominal ultrasound is a non-invasive, widely available imaging modality; when performed, it revealed an enlarged pancreas in almost 60% of the patients. However, abdominal ultrasonography is often limited by the presence of excessive bowel gas. Anatomical abnormalities were the most common etiologies of pancreatitis (29%), followed by idiopathic pancreatitis (21%), and biliary causes (21%).
Conclusion:
In our cohort, serum lipase was a better diagnostic tool compared to serum amylase. Congenital biliary-pancreatic abnormalities were the most common causes of acute pancreatitis in our cohort. Almost half of these patients developed recurrent acute pancreatitis. The prevalence of pancreatic pseudocysts was 16.7%, and nearly half of them required an intervention.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Acute pancreatitis is characterized by rapid inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by factors like gallstone blockage or excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a slow, progressive inflammation that may result from long-term alcohol abuse, obstructions in the pancreatic duct, or genetic factors.
The causes of acute pancreatitis include:
01:30Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
01:29Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment:
01:24Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
01:28Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
01:27Acute Pyelonephritis I: Introduction