title: Decreased mortality in acute pancreatitis related to early aggressive hydration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early aggressive intravenous hydration is believed to prevent morbidity and mortality by preventing intravascular volume depletion and maintaining perfusion of the pancreas possibly preventing pancreatic necrosis. The following study was initiated to determine the relationship between the observed decrease in mortality and the role of early aggressive hydration.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive series of patients with acute pancreatitis from a single community hospital in 1998 were compared to a consecutive series of patients with acute pancreatitis from the same institution in 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly more patients developed pancreatic necrosis; 26 (15%) of 173 patients in 1998 compared to 4 (4%) of 113 patients in 2008. The mean rate of hydration was significantly higher in 2008 compared with that in 1998 (P = 0.02). In 1998, hydration was provided at 184 mL/h during the first 6 hours and 188 mL/h during the first 12 hours compared with 284 mL/h during the first 6 hours and 221 mL/h during the first 12 hours in 2008. There was a significant decrease in mortality in 2008 compared with that in 1998 (3.5% vs 12%, P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease in mortality seen in patients with acute pancreatitis during the last decade may be related to the increased aggressive hydration preventing pancreatic necrosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, State University of New York-Health Sciences Center, Brooklyn, NY 11235, USA.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Nison
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Badalov
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baradarian
authors.forename: Kadirawel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iswara
authors.forename: Jian Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tenner
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors