SIRS as a predictor of severity in acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Introduction: a number of different clinical, paraclinical and image scores have been used over the years to predict morbimortality in severe acute pancreatitis. These scores have evidenced different usefulness, although the fact that they are complex has resulted in limitations in their use in the regular clinical practice.
Objective: to determine the association of SIRS and its duration with mortality and the development of complications.
Method: we conducted a multi-center, analytical and observational study of all patients with acute pancreatitis (96 patients) diagnosed at the Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas (Armed Forces Central Hospital (43.8%), Clínicas Hospital (30.3%) and Hospital Español (21.9%).
Results: 67% of the cases with acute pancreatitis evidenced a mild evolution, 25% of them a moderate one and 8% of them a severe one. 42% of patients developed SIRS at the time of diagnosis, and 15% of patients evidenced continued SIRS 48 hours after. Continued SIRS was significantly associated to the existence of pancreatic necrosis, persistent organ failure, the need for intensive care, the development of locoregional complications, an increase in the number of CT, severity of acute pancreatitis and mortality. Mortality in patients with transient SIRS was null and in those with continued SIRS was 27%.
Conclusion: continued SIRS for over 48 hours is associated to all severity markers. Absence or presence of SIRS for at least 48 hours is not associated to mortality and locoregional complications are minor.