An Experience of Management of Acute Pancreatitis at Mayo Hospital, Lahore.

Abstract

A popular belief in our country is that acute pancreatitis is uncommon but our recent observations suggest contrary to it.: The case records of all those patients received in the emergency duty of south surgical ward of Mayo Hospital, Lahore from February 1998 to August 1998 and were diagnosed either clinically, biochemically or at laparotomy to have acute pancreatitis were reviewed. A four fold rise in serum amylase levels was taken as diagnostic of acute pancreatitis. Laparotomy was only carried out to exclude other abdominal conditions that mimic acute pancreatitis. The case records of patients admitted with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in the period 1996-97 were also reviewed for comparison. Total of 11 cases were seen during the six month period. Majority were females with gallstone being the commonest aetiological agent. Three (03) cases died (27%) of which two (02) were males. Majority died after drainage of pancreatic abscess because of unresolved sepsis. On the contrary only three cases were seen in 1996-97, all were females with gallstones being the major aetiological agent. Through the case series is small to establish but we conclude on the basis of these observations that gallstone pancreatitis is not uncommon in our country and scrum amylase levels should be asked for in any non-specific acute abdominal pain.