Pancreatic Necrosis Infection as a Determinant of Multiple Organ Failure and Mortality in Acute Pancreatitis

Abstract

Several recommendations and data on the treatment of acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) are conflicting and different surgical approaches continue to exist. We conducted a study on 148 patients with ANP, who were divided into two groups: the main group (n = 95) when the tactics of the step-up approach were applied with the principles of the concept of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in order to determine this approach on effectiveness in reducing complications and 30-day mortality (2017–2022); the comparison group (n = 53) when the same tactic of the treatment was used without ERAS principles (2015–2016). Treatment time for the main group in the intensive care unit was minimized (p ≤ 0.004); it has been shown to reduce the frequency of complications in these patients (p < 0.001) requiring conservative or surgical treatment without general anaesthesia (Clavien-Dindo I-IIIa); no statistically significant differences were observed for the total incidence of Clavien-Dindo IIIb-IVb complications (p > 0.05); the median duration of treatment for patients in the primary group was 23 days, and in the reference group—34 days (p ≤ 0.003). Pancreatic infections have been observed in 92 (62.2%) patients and gram-negative bacteria predominated in the overall pathogen structure with 222 (70.7%) strains. The only evidence of multiple organ failure before (AUC = 0.814) and after surgery (AUC = 0.931) was found to be predictive of mortality. Antibiotic sensitivity of all isolated bacteria better understood local epidemiology and identified the most effective antibiotics when treating patients.