Effect of lower-molecular weight heparin in the prevention of pancreatic encephalopathy in the patient with severe acute pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of lower-molecular weight heparin in the prevention of pancreatic encephalopathy (PE) in the patient with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).


METHODS
Two hundred sixty-five SAP patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: (1) conventional treatment group (C group, n = 130) and (2) conventional treatment plus lower-molecular weight heparin treatment group (LT group, n = 135). The clinical parameters, laboratory parameters and computed tomographic (CT) score of pancreatic necrosis (CTSPN), incidence of PE, and mortality in the 2 groups were compared.


RESULTS
On admission, all the clinical parameters, laboratory parameters, and CTSPN in the 2 groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05). However, 1 to 2 weeks after treatment, the symptoms and signs improvement rate, the levels of blood and urine amylase, the CT score, and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score in the LT group were obviously lower than those in the C group (P < 0.05-0.01), and PE occurrence rate, mortality, and mean hospital stay in LT group were obviously lower than those in the C group (P < 0.05-0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Lower-molecular weight heparin can enhance the effect of conventional treatment of SAP and can markedly decrease the PE incidence and improve the survival rate of SAP. Lower-molecular weight heparin is a simple, safe, less expensive, and effective method for treatment of SAP. It can be used in every hospital.
Lu
Xin-sheng
XS
Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China. xinshenglv@hotmail.com
Qiu
Fu
F
Li
Yi-xiong
YX
Li
Jie-qin
JQ
Fan
Qin-qiao
QQ
Zhou
Ri-guang
RG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000150:complications*; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D005340:Fibrinogen; D000681:Amylases