[Acute pancreatitis: five year experience at the Hospital General de Mexico].
BACKGROUND
In Mexico acute pancreatitis is an important cause of morbility and mortality. We here describe the characteristics of patients managed with that diagnosis at the Hospital General de Mexico.


METHODS
Retrospective, descriptive and observational study. Patients with acute panrcreatitis were seen between January 1996 to December 2000.


RESULTS
The acute pancreatitis prevalence found in the hospital setting was 5%. We identified 104 patients, 62% men, with mean age 37 yrs. In 74% ofcases seen, we made a correct early diagnosis upon admission. The biliary (49%) and the alcoholic (37%) were the most frequent causes. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom at onset (94%). High leukocyte count (78%), followed by serum lipase (74%) was the most sensitive laboratory test. Only 34% of patients studied had an adequate nutritional status. 54% of' patients presented severe pancreatitis. The mean number of hospital days was 17 and 44% required ICU management. Thirty five percent required surgery where necrosectomy was performed and a mortality of 67% was found. The total mortality rate was 21%.


CONCLUSIONS
The correct clinical diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is frequent. It is a more common finding than severe pancreatitis, but it does not increase the morbility and mortality in our patient population.
Sánchez-Lozada
Raúl
R
Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital General de Mexico. Aspirante a Doctorado en Investigación en Medicina, Escuela Superior de Medicina, IPN. rslozada@correo.unam.mx
Camacho-Hernández
María Isabel
MI
Vega-Chavaje
Ricardo Gerardo
RG
Garza-Flores
José Humberto
JH
Campos-Castillo
Carlos
C
Gutiérrez-Vega
Rafael
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index