Management of Acute Pancreatitis
Publication Date: September 1, 2013
Last Updated: March 14, 2022
Recommendations
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of AP is most often established by the presence of two of the three following criteria:
(i) abdominal pain consistent with the disease
(ii) serum amylase and/or lipase greater than three times the upper limit of normal, and/or
(iii) characteristic findings from abdominal imaging.
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Contrast-enhanced computed tomographic (CECT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pancreas should be reserved for patients in whom the diagnosis is unclear or who fail to improve clinically within the first 48–72 h after hospital admission. (Strong “We recommend”, Low)
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Etiology
Transabdominal ultrasound should be performed in all patients with acute pancreatitis. (Strong “We recommend”, Low)
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In the absence of gallstones and/or history of significant history of alcohol use, a serum triglyceride should be obtained and considered the etiology if >1,000 mg/dl. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Moderate)
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In a patient older than 40 years, a pancreatic tumor should be considered as a possible cause of acute pancreatitis. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Low)
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Endoscopic investigation in patients with acute idiopathic pancreatitis should be limited, as the risks and benefits of investigation in these patients are unclear. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Low)
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Patients with idiopathic pancreatitis should be referred to centers of expertise. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Low)
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Genetic testing may be considered in young patients (<30 years old) if no cause is evident and a family history of pancreatic disease is present. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Low)
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Initial assessment and risk stratification
Hemodynamic status should be assessed immediately upon presentation and resuscitative measures begun as needed. (Strong “We recommend”, Moderate)
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Risk assessment should be performed to stratify patients into higher- and lower-risk categories to assist triage, such as admission to an intensive care setting. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Moderate)
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Patients with organ failure should be admitted to an intensive care unit or intermediary care setting whenever possible. (Strong “We recommend”, Low)
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Initial management
Aggressive hydration, defined as 250-500 ml per hour of isotonic crystalloid solution should be provided to all patients, unless cardiovascular and/or renal comorbidites exist. Early aggressive intravenous hydration is most beneficial the first 12–24 h, and may have little benefit beyond. (Strong “We recommend”, Moderate)
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In a patient with severe volume depletion, manifest as hypotension and tachycardia, more rapid repletion (bolus) may be needed. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Moderate)
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Lactated Ringer’s solution may be the preferred isotonic crystalloid replacement fluid. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Moderate)
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Fluid requirements should be reassessed at frequent intervals within 6 h of admission and for the next 24–48 h. The goal of aggressive hydration should be to decrease the blood urea nitrogen. (Strong “We recommend”, Moderate)
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ERCP in acute pancreatitis
Patients with acute pancreatitis and concurrent acute cholangitis should undergo ERCP within 24 h of admission. (Strong “We recommend”, Moderate)
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ERCP is not needed in most patients with gallstone pancreatitis who lack laboratory or clinical evidence of ongoing biliary obstruction. (Strong “We recommend”, Low)
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In the absence of cholangitis and/or jaundice, MRCP or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) rather than diagnostic ERCP should be used to screen for choledocholithiasis if highly suspected. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Low)
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Pancreatic duct stents and/or postprocedure rectal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) suppositories should be utilized to prevent severe post-ERCP pancreatitis in high-risk patients. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Moderate)
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The role of antibiotics in acute pancreatitis
Antibiotics should be given for an extrapancreatic infection, such as cholangitis, catheter-acquired infections, bacteremia, urinary tract infections, pneumonia. (Strong “We recommend”, High)
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Routine use of prophylactic antibiotics in patients with severe acute pancreatitis is not recommended. (Strong “We recommend”, Moderate)
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The use of antibiotics in patients with sterile necrosis to prevent the development of infected necrosis is not recommended. (Strong “We recommend”, Moderate)
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Infected necrosis should be considered in patients with pancreatic or extrapancreatic necrosis who deteriorate or fail to improve after 7–10 days of hospitalization. In these patients, either:
(i) initial CT-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) for Gram stain and culture to guide use of appropriate antibiotics or
(ii) empiric use of antibiotics without CT FNA should be given.
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In patients with infected necrosis, antibiotics known to penetrate pancreatic necrosis, such as carbapenems, quinolones, and metronidazole, may be useful in delaying or sometimes totally avoiding intervention, thus decreasing morbidity and mortality. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Low)
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Routine administration of antifungal agents along with prophylactic or therapeutic antibiotics is not recommended. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Low)
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Nutrition in acute pancreatitis
In mild AP, oral feedings can be started immediately if there is no nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain has resolved. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Moderate)
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In mild AP, initiation of feeding with a low-fat solid diet appears as safe as a clear liquid diet. (Conditional (weak) “We suggest”, Moderate)
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In severe AP, enteral nutrition is recommended to prevent infectious complications. Parenteral nutrition should be avoided unless the enteral route is not available, not tolerated, or not meeting caloric requirements. (Strong “We recommend”, High)
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Nasogastric delivery and nasojejunal delivery of enteral feeding appear comparable in efficacy and safety. (Strong “We recommend”, Moderate)
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The role of surgery in acute pancreatitis
In patients with mild AP, found to have gallstones in the gallbladder, a cholecystectomy should be performed before discharge to prevent a recurrence of AP. (Strong “We recommend”, Moderate)
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In a patient with necrotizing biliary AP, in order to prevent infection, cholecystectomy is to be deferred until active infl ammation subsides and fluid collections resolve or stabilize. (Strong “We recommend”, Moderate)
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The presence of asymptomatic pseudocysts and pancreatic and/or extrapancreatic necrosis do not warrant intervention, regardless of size, location, and/or extension. (Strong “We recommend”, Moderate)
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In stable patients with infected necrosis, surgical, radiologic, and/or endoscopic drainage should be delayed preferably for more than 4 weeks to allow liquefication of the contents and the development of a fibrous wall around the necrosis (walled-off necrosis). (Strong “We recommend”, Low)
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In symptomatic patients with infected necrosis, minimally invasive methods of necrosectomy are preferred to open necrosectomy. (Strong “We recommend”, Low)
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AP, acute pancreatitis; CT, computed tomography; ERCP, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; MRCP, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Recommendation Grading
Disclaimer
Overview
Title
Management of Acute Pancreatitis
Authoring Organization
American College of Gastroenterology
Publication Month/Year
September 1, 2013
Last Updated Month/Year
June 26, 2023
Supplemental Implementation Tools
Document Type
Guideline
External Publication Status
Published
Country of Publication
US
Document Objectives
This guideline presents recommendations for the management of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP)
Target Patient Population
Patients with acute pancreatitis
Inclusion Criteria
Female, Male, Adolescent, Adult, Older adult
Health Care Settings
Ambulatory, Hospital, Operating and recovery room, Outpatient
Intended Users
Nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant
Scope
Assessment and screening, Diagnosis, Management, Treatment
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)
D010195 - Pancreatitis, D019283 - Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing
Keywords
acute pancreatitis, diagnosis
Source Citation
American Journal of Gastroenterology: September 2013 - Volume 108 - Issue 9 - p 1400-1415
doi: 10.1038/ajg.2013.218