Abstract
(Aim) The aim of this study was to clarify how to treat patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) in Japanese hospitals. (Methods) A nation-wide survey was conducted targeting patients with AP who were treated in Japanese hospitals in 2011. Clinical data of 2694 patients were accumulated and analyzed. (Results) Severity of patients with AP, which was estimated by the Japanese severity scoring system on admission, was well correlated with hospital mortality. The utility of following treatments were addressed; early fluid therapy, early enteral nutrition therapy, early use of antibiotics and protease inhibitors, continuous regional arterial infusion of protease inhibitor and antibiotics therapy and blood purification therapy. Moreover, the utility of endoscopic treatments for acute gallstone pancreatitis and walled-off necrosis (WON) were also addressed. (Conclusion) The early severity assessment by the Japanese severity scoring system was useful. Prospective studies are necessary to estimate the efficacy of each therapy, which is currently performed in Japanese hospitals.
