A prospective multicentre survey on the treatment of acute pancreatitis in Italy.

Abstract Background The Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas released a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for acute pancreatitis in 1999. Aim This study focused on the analysis of the therapeutic approach for the treatment of acute pancreatitis in Italy. Patients One thousand, one hundred and seventy-three patients were recruited: 1006 patients (85.8%) had mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) and 167 (14.2%) had the severe acute pancreatitis (SAP); 161 patients showed pancreatic necrosis at computed tomography; 121 patients (10.3%) had sequelae and 36 (3.1%) died. Results Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and tramadol were used more frequently in patients with the MAP whereas opioids and the association schedules were used more frequently in patients with the SAP ( P P  = 0.521). The duration of the drug administration was significantly shorter in those having MAP than in those having the SAP ( P Conclusions The results of this survey indicate a lack of compliance with the guidelines which regard the indications mainly for interventional endoscopy and surgery.