Clinical analysis of 16 patients with acute pancreatitis in the third trimester of pregnancy.

AIM

Acute pancreatitis (AP), in particular, severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), is a rare but challenging complication during pregnancy in terms of diagnosis and management. The objective of this paper is to investigate the causes and therapeutic strategies of AP in patients during the third trimester of pregnancy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical features, laboratory data, and outcomes in 16 patients with acute pancreatitis during the third trimester of pregnancy.

RESULTS

Information was collected on admission, management, and outcome. A total 16 patients were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis during pregnancy. In 7 of 9 patients with mild AP, pregnancy was terminated by cesarean section and all 9 cases were cured. In 4 out of 7 patients with SAP, pregnancy was terminated by cesarean section in conjunction with peritoneal irrigation and drainage, and the mothers and infants survived. In the remaining 3 patients with SAP, there was one case of intrauterine death in which Induced labor was performed and 2 patients died of multiple organ failure.

CONCLUSION

A high-fat diet and cholelithiasis are the triggers of AP in pregnancy. Conservative treatment is the preferred therapeutic method; in particular, for mild AP. Endoscopic surgery and peritoneal drainage are effective for acute biliary pancreatitis. Patients with hyperlipidemic pancreatitis should undergo lipid-lowering therapy, and hemofiltration should be done as soon as it becomes necessary. For patients with SAP, termination of pregnancy should be carried out as early as possible.