Real-world insights for the evolving intervention strategy for non-mild acute pancreatitis: 35-year experience in a Chinese Tertiary Center

Abstract

Background: With the accumulation of experience and evidence, guidelines for invasive intervention for acute pancreatitis (AP) have continuously evolved, followed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). We aimed to review AP case series to help understand the impact of guideline evolution on the management and prognosis of AP in real-world practice. Methods: This was a single-center study of AP patients who had received invasive interventions from 1988 to 2022. Patient demographics, baseline severity, imaging findings, and the indication, timing, and specific modalities of invasive interventions were collected. The composite primary endpoint was death during hospitalization or major complications after intervention. Other endpoints included pancreatic fistula, incision infection, number of interventions, length of intensive care stay, length of hospitalization, and total medical cost. Results: A total of 195 patients were included. The most common indication for invasive intervention was suspected infection, followed by persistent symptoms. The step-up and delayed strategies reduced the incidence of major complications or death. Over 35 years, the number of patients requiring surgery has gradually declined, and more patients need only minimally invasive procedures for remission. The incidence of the primary outcome decreased as well as the duration of hospitalization. Conclusions: The management of AP patients at PUMCH in the last 35 years has undergone therapeutic guideline changes that support the efficacy and safety of the deferred step-up strategy in real-world practice.