Increased intra-abdominal pressure - An important risk factor of early organ dysfunction in severe acute pancreatitis

Background: Sustained increase of the intra-abdominal pressure is recently recognized as a potential risk factor of early organ dysfunction in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Assessment of the possible mutual relevance between, increased intraabdominal pressure and early organ dysfunction is important for optimisation of the treatment strategy in this category of patients. Patients and methods: 71 patients with severe acute pancreatitis were entered in this prospective study. Clinical routine, sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA), and intra-abdominal pressure were registered, considering 25 cm H2O a critical value for the grouping in high-risk (n = 18) and low-risk (n = 53) patients according to whether they experienced the critical level during their treatment course. Results: The age structure and the initial presentation of the organ dysfunction were similar between both groups. Progression of the organ dysfunction was observed in 61 % of the high-risk patients, compared to 32 % of low-risk patients, p < 0.05. Organ function improved after three to four day treatment only in survivors. Peak intra-abdominal pressure was greater in high-risk patients, p < 0.01, but declined after three to five day treatment period in all survivors, remaining critical in nonsurvivors. 78% of high-risk and 32 % of low-risk patients were operated, p < 0.05. The overall mortality was 8.5 %, consisting of 2 % mortality in the low-risk group and 28 % mortality in the high-risk group, p < 0.01. Conclusion: Increased intra-abdominal pressure could be an important risk factor of early organ dysfunction in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Critical increase of the intra-abdominal pressure and persisting organ dysfunction are an indication for reassessment of the treatment strategy.