Treatment of gallstone pancreatitis in Denmark

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to describe the treatment of gallstone pancreatitis in Denmark and to compare it to the recommendations given in the National Reference Programme for the treatment of patients with gallstone disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to the 42 general surgical hospital departments in Denmark. RESULTS: All of the departments returned the questionnaire. All of them treated patients with gallstone pancreatitis; 40 of them performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The severity of gallstone pancreatitis was estimated in 29 departments. In patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis, 6 departments used ERCP in the evaluation of choledocholithiasis. In patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis who did not undergo an ERCP procedure with sphincterotomy, 13 departments performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the same admission after an acute attack. DISCUSSION: In agreement with the recommendations given in the National Reference Programme, the majority of Danish surgical departments used laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the treatment of patients with gallstone pancreatitis who had not undergone ERCP with sphincterotomy. To avoid the high recurrence of gallstone pancreatitis, laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the same admission is recommended. This recommendation was, however, followed by less than half of the surgical departments.