Long-term outcome of acute pancreatitis: a prospective study with 118 patients.
118 patients who had recovered from acute pancreatitis underwent endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERCP) during a long-term follow-up (mean 4.4 years, range 1-17) to investigate the frequency and features of residual ductal lesions. Oedematous and necrohaemorrhagic pancreatitis occurred in 35 and in 83 patients, respectively. The aetiology was biliary (39 patients), alcoholic (32), biliary-alcoholic (18) and miscellaneous (29). After oedematous pancreatitis, ERCP was normal in 31, showed obstructive pancreatitis in 2 and a slight localized and smooth stricture of the main duct in 2 patients. After necrotizing pancreatitis, 29 patients showed ductal changes without features of chronic pancreatitis, 7 obstructive, 3 chronic calcifying pancreatitis and 44 normal pictures. In 17 patients submitted to two or three ERCPs during a mean 10-year follow-up, the ductal appearance was unchanged in 12, worsened in 3, and improved in 2 patients. The aetiology of pancreatitis and frequency of recurrences was similar in patients with or without scarring lesions. We conclude that residual ductal lesions are common after acute necrotizing pancreatitis.
Angelini
G
G
Medical Clinic University of Verona, Italy.
Cavallini
G
G
Pederzoli
P
P
Bovo
P
P
Bassi
C
C
Di Francesco
V
V
Frulloni
L
L
Sgarbi
D
D
Talamini
G
G
Castagnini
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors