Clinical pathways for acute pancreatitis: Recommendations for early multidisciplinary management

Abstract There is a growing body of evidence that early management of patients with acute pancreatitis may alter the natural course of disease and improve outcomes of patients. The aim of this paper is to optimize the management of patients with acute pancreatitis during the first 72 h after hospital admission by proposing several clinical care pathways. The proposed pathways are based on the SEMICYUC 2005 recommendations with incorporation of the latest developments in the field, particularly the determinants-based classification of acute pancreatitis severity. The pathways also include the “alarm signs”, the use of therapeutic modalities known as PANCREAS, and the “call to ICU” criteria. Further studies will need to assess whether adoption of these pathways reduces mortality and morbidity in patients with acute pancreatitis. The previous SEMICYUC guidelines for management of patients with acute pancreatitis in an Intensive Care Unit will need to be revised to reflect the recent developments in the field.