Severe Complications Are Common in Children with Pancreatitis

Current scoring systems are unreliable for predicting which children will develop severe disease.

Despite advances in treatment of pancreatitis, about one third of children develop severe complications. Investigators examined the reliability of three scoring systems for predicting major complications in all 211 children (mean age, 11 years; 52% male) who were admitted with pancreatitis to one hospital from 2000 to 2009.

Etiologies included idiopathic (31%), medication-induced (20%), cholelithiasis (12%), trauma (8%), transplantation (8%), structural (5%), and hemolytic uremic syndrome (3%). Nearly 30% of patients were transferred to the intensive care unit, 7% required pancreatic procedures, 12% were readmitted for pancreatitis, and 15% developed chronic pancreatitis. Five patients died during hospitalization, all from comorbid condition…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)