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Review

Clinical practice guideline: management of acute pancreatitis

Joshua A. Greenberg, Jonathan Hsu, Mohammad Bawazeer, John Marshall, Jan O. Friedrich, Avery Nathens, Natalie Coburn, Gary R. May, Emily Pearsall and Robin S. McLeod
CAN J SURG April 01, 2016 59 (2) 128-140; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cjs.015015
Joshua A. Greenberg
From the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Greenberg, Bawazeer, Nathens, Coburn, Pearsall, McLeod); the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Friedrich, May); the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Bawazeer, Friedrich); the Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Pearsall, McLeod); the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont. (Nathens, Coburn); and the Divisions of Gastroenterology and General Surgery (Marshall) and Critical Care (Friedrich), St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
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Jonathan Hsu
From the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Greenberg, Bawazeer, Nathens, Coburn, Pearsall, McLeod); the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Friedrich, May); the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Bawazeer, Friedrich); the Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Pearsall, McLeod); the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont. (Nathens, Coburn); and the Divisions of Gastroenterology and General Surgery (Marshall) and Critical Care (Friedrich), St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
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Mohammad Bawazeer
From the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Greenberg, Bawazeer, Nathens, Coburn, Pearsall, McLeod); the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Friedrich, May); the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Bawazeer, Friedrich); the Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Pearsall, McLeod); the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont. (Nathens, Coburn); and the Divisions of Gastroenterology and General Surgery (Marshall) and Critical Care (Friedrich), St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
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John Marshall
From the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Greenberg, Bawazeer, Nathens, Coburn, Pearsall, McLeod); the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Friedrich, May); the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Bawazeer, Friedrich); the Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Pearsall, McLeod); the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont. (Nathens, Coburn); and the Divisions of Gastroenterology and General Surgery (Marshall) and Critical Care (Friedrich), St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
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Jan O. Friedrich
From the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Greenberg, Bawazeer, Nathens, Coburn, Pearsall, McLeod); the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Friedrich, May); the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Bawazeer, Friedrich); the Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Pearsall, McLeod); the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont. (Nathens, Coburn); and the Divisions of Gastroenterology and General Surgery (Marshall) and Critical Care (Friedrich), St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
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Avery Nathens
From the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Greenberg, Bawazeer, Nathens, Coburn, Pearsall, McLeod); the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Friedrich, May); the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Bawazeer, Friedrich); the Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Pearsall, McLeod); the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont. (Nathens, Coburn); and the Divisions of Gastroenterology and General Surgery (Marshall) and Critical Care (Friedrich), St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
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Natalie Coburn
From the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Greenberg, Bawazeer, Nathens, Coburn, Pearsall, McLeod); the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Friedrich, May); the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Bawazeer, Friedrich); the Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Pearsall, McLeod); the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont. (Nathens, Coburn); and the Divisions of Gastroenterology and General Surgery (Marshall) and Critical Care (Friedrich), St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
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Gary R. May
From the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Greenberg, Bawazeer, Nathens, Coburn, Pearsall, McLeod); the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Friedrich, May); the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Bawazeer, Friedrich); the Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Pearsall, McLeod); the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont. (Nathens, Coburn); and the Divisions of Gastroenterology and General Surgery (Marshall) and Critical Care (Friedrich), St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
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Emily Pearsall
From the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Greenberg, Bawazeer, Nathens, Coburn, Pearsall, McLeod); the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Friedrich, May); the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Bawazeer, Friedrich); the Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Pearsall, McLeod); the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont. (Nathens, Coburn); and the Divisions of Gastroenterology and General Surgery (Marshall) and Critical Care (Friedrich), St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
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Robin S. McLeod
From the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Greenberg, Bawazeer, Nathens, Coburn, Pearsall, McLeod); the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Friedrich, May); the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. (Bawazeer, Friedrich); the Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (Hsu, Pearsall, McLeod); the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont. (McLeod); the Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont. (Nathens, Coburn); and the Divisions of Gastroenterology and General Surgery (Marshall) and Critical Care (Friedrich), St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
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    Table 1

    Summary and grading of recommendations

    Guideline recommendationStrength of evidenceGuideline recommendation
    A serum lipase test should be performed in all patients with a suspected diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.Moderate–highStrong
    Ultrasonography should be performed in all patients at baseline to evaluate the biliary tract to determine if the patient has gallstones and/or a stone in the common bile duct.HighStrong
    Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is recommended only in patients in whom there is elevation of liver enzymes and the common bile duct is either not visualized adequately or is found to be normal on ultrasound.HighStrong
    Computed tomography should be performed selectively when 1) a broad differential diagnosis that includes acute pancreatitis must be narrowed, or 2) in patients with acute pancreatitis and a suspected local complication (e.g., peritonitis, signs of shock, suggestive ultrasound findings).Low–moderateStrong
    C-reactive protein (CRP) should be assessed at admission and daily for the first 72 h after admission.Low–moderateWeak
    Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II Scores should be calculated on admission and daily for the first 72 h after admission.ModerateWeak
    The diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis should be made if the patient has a serum CRP ≥ 14 286 nmol/L (150 mg/dL) at baseline or in the first 72 h; APACHE Score ≥ 8 at baseline or in the first 72 h; or exhibits signs of persistent organ failure for > 48 h despite adequate intravenous fluid resuscitation.ModerateStrong
    Supportive care, including resuscitation with isotonic intravenous fluids like Ringer’s Lactate, pain control and mobilization, should be the mainstay of treatment for patients with mild acute pancreatitis.LowStrong
    Careful consideration of transfer to a monitored unit should be made in patients with
    • Severe acute pancreatitis based on APACHE II Score > 8, CRP > 14 286 nmol/L (150 mg/dL), or organ dysfunction > 48 h despite adequate resuscitation;

    • Evidence of present or evolving organ dysfunction;

    • Need for aggressive, ongoing fluid resuscitation.

    LowStrong
    Patients with mild acute pancreatitis should receive a regular diet on admission. If patients initially are unable to tolerate an oral diet owing to abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or ileus, they may be allowed to self-advance their diet from withholding oral food and liquid to a regular diet as tolerated.HighStrong
    In patients with severe acute pancreatitis, enteral nutrition should be commenced as soon as possible following admission (within 48 h).HighStrong
    Prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended.HighStrong
    Patients with 1) extensive necrotizing acute pancreatitis, 2) who show no clinical signs of improvement following appropriate initial management, or 3) who experience other complications should be managed in institutions that have on-site or access to therapeutic endoscopy, interventional radiology, surgeons and intensivists with expertise in dealing with severe acute pancreatitis.ModerateWeak
    Follow-up computed tomography should be based on the clinical status of the patient and not performed routinely at regular intervals.LowStrong
    Patients with acute peripancreatic fluid collections with no radiological or clinical suspicion of sepsis should be observed, and image-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) should be avoided owing to the risk of introducing infection into a sterile collection.ModerateWeak
    When there is radiological or clinical suspicion of infected necrosis in patients with acute necrotic collections (ANCs) or walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN), image-guided FNA with culture should be performed to distinguish infected from sterile necrosis.ModerateStrong
    Sterile necrosis based on negative FNA and/or stable clinical picture should be managed nonoperatively, and antibiotics are not indicated. For unstable patients in whom sepsis is suspected but no source has been identified, treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics on speculation may be indicated while an appropriate work up (bacterial and fungal cultures, CT scan) is carried out.ModerateWeak
    In patients with FNA-confirmed infections of ANCs or WOPN, a step-up approach of antibiotics, image-guided drainage, followed by surgical intervention, if necessary, is indicated.ModerateStrong
    Pancreatic pseudocysts that are asymptomatic should be managed nonoperatively. Intervention is indicated in pseudocysts that are symptomatic, infected, or increasing in size on serial imaging.ModerateStrong
    Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) should be performed early (within 24–48 h) in patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis associated with bile duct obstruction or cholangitis. In unstable patients with severe acute gallstone pancreatitis and associated bile duct obstruction or cholangitis, placement of a percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage tube should be considered if ERCP is not safely feasible.Moderate–highStrong
    Cholecystectomy should be performed during the index admission in patients who have mild acute pancreatitis and delayed until clinical resolution in patients who have severe acute pancreatitis.ModerateStrong
    If cholecystectomy cannot be performed during the index admission owing to medical comorbidities, patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis should undergo ERCP with sphincterotomy before discharge.LowWeak
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Canadian Journal of Surgery: 59 (2)
CAN J SURG
Vol. 59, Issue 2
1 Apr 2016
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Clinical practice guideline: management of acute pancreatitis
Joshua A. Greenberg, Jonathan Hsu, Mohammad Bawazeer, John Marshall, Jan O. Friedrich, Avery Nathens, Natalie Coburn, Gary R. May, Emily Pearsall, Robin S. McLeod
CAN J SURG Apr 2016, 59 (2) 128-140; DOI: 10.1503/cjs.015015

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Clinical practice guideline: management of acute pancreatitis
Joshua A. Greenberg, Jonathan Hsu, Mohammad Bawazeer, John Marshall, Jan O. Friedrich, Avery Nathens, Natalie Coburn, Gary R. May, Emily Pearsall, Robin S. McLeod
CAN J SURG Apr 2016, 59 (2) 128-140; DOI: 10.1503/cjs.015015
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