title: Effects of early contrast-enhanced computed tomography on clinical course and complications in patients with acute pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of an early contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) on clinical course and complications of acute pancreatitis (AP).
  
  
  METHODS
  58 patients with AP who had at least one CECT examination were analyzed retrospectively. Laboratory as well as clinical data, and results from the assessment of disease severity (CT severity index (CTSI) and its modified (MCTSI) version) were analyzed. The primary endpoint was the development of severe complications, defined as death, respiratory failure, acute renal failure, and the need for invasive interventions. Patients were divided into two groups: an early group (CECT within the first 48 h after the onset of symptoms, n = 32) and a late group (CECT > 48 h after the onset of symptoms, n = 26). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for severe complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences between both groups concerning baseline characteristics, CTSI, and MCTSI. Complications occurred more often in the early CECT group (p = 0.008). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified an early CECT and a severe MCTSI as independent risk factors for the occurrence of severe complications (p = 0.02 and p = 0.002, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CECT performed within the first 48 h after the onset of symptoms is associated with an unfavorable outcome in AP.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Technical University Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Foerster
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelc
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schreiter
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: D-H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krug
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Christ
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Steffen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D018450:Disease Progression; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media