Sixty percent of the AP patients died within 7 days of admission. Pulmonary edema and congestion were significantly more prevalent in this group, as was the presence of hemorrhagic pancreatitis. In the remaining 40% of patients surviving longer than 7 days, infection was the major factor contributing to death.
What causes death from pancreatitis?
Death during the first several days of acute pancreatitis is usually caused by failure of the heart, lungs, or kidneys. Death after the first week is usually caused by pancreatic infection or by a pseudocyst that bleeds or ruptures.
What is the most common complication of acute pancreatitis?
The most common complication of acute pancreatitis (occurring in approximately 25% of patients, especially those with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis) is the collection of pancreatic juices outside of the normal boundaries of the ductal system called pseudocysts (Figure 23A). Most pseudocysts resolve spontaneously.
What is the most common cause of death in patients with chronic pancreatitis?
The most frequent causes of death were: pancreatic cancer (3.6%), complications after surgery (3.6%) and upper digestive hemorrhage (2.4%).
How can acute pancreatitis be life threatening?
Severe acute pancreatitis can also cause hypovolemic shock. This involves severe blood and fluid loss leaving the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body. If this happens, parts of the body can rapidly become deprived of oxygen. This is a life threatening situation.
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