Pancreatitis: an analysis of 106 patients admitted to Ramathibodi Hospital during 1969-1984.

In analysing 106 patients with pancreatitis admitted to Ramathibodi hospital from 1969 to 1984, 71 were males and 35 females. Their ages ranged from 8-83 years. Of the 106 patients, 92 were diagnosed as acute, and 14 as chronic pancreatitis; 49(46.2%), 48(45.3%), and 9(8.5%) had mild, moderately severe, and fulminant disease, respectively. Etiologically, chronic alcoholism, biliary tract stones, and unknown cause were found associated in 33.0, 24.5 and 22.6 per cent, of the total cases respectively. Relapsing pancreatitis occurred in 35 patients (33.0%), 27(77.1%) of whom were chronic alcoholic. Five (62.5%) of the 8 patients with traumatic induced pancreatitis were children. Among the more common clinical symptoms and findings: abrupt epigastric pain occurred in 76 patients (71.7%), localized abdominal tenderness in 59(55.7%), generalized abdominal tenderness in 33(31.1%), nausea and vomiting in 34(32.0%), fever of over 38 degrees C in 20 (18.8%), palpable mass in 17(16.0%), and ascites in 8(7.5%). Laboratorically, elevated serum amylase was the most useful single diagnostic test, i.e. it was elevated in 100(94.3%) of the 106 patients. Pseudocyst, pancreatic abscess, and GI hemorrhage with liver failure occurred in 10 (9.4%), 2(1.8%), and 3(2.8%) patients, respectively. Sixty-six patients were treated medically and 40 patients were subjected to surgery. Regardless of whether they were treated medically or surgically, 7 of the 9 patients with fulminating pancreatitis died, and another 2 remaining patients were taken home in moribund state.