[Acute pancreatitis: case reports from 1992-1997. Analysis of the costs of DRG, role of ERCP in the reduction of hospitalization time]. / Pancreatite acuta: revisione casistica 1992-1997. Analisi dei costi in funzione dei DRG, ruolo dell'ERCP nella riduzione della degenza ospedaliera.

In the period 1992-1997, 211 cases of acute pancreatitis were observed: 81 grave cases; 130 slight cases. The ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy were performed in 84 cases. From the critical revision 2 groups of patients emerged, homogeneous for etiology and clinical classification, the first submitted to ERCP within 72 hours from the entry in hospital; the other after 72 from the hospitalisation. The "t" Students test for small numbers was significant (p < 001) showing a decrease of hospitalisation in the submitted group to ERCP within 3 days. In 42 cases of acute pancreatitis observed in 1997 a study was made about the hospitalised patients' costs. Two homogeneous groups of acute and slight pancreatitis have been considered. The parameters analysed were about the costs of: a) days hospitalisations; b) pharmaceutical expenses; c) hematological examination; d) surgical operation, laparothomic and laparoscopic surgery; e) instrumental examination. The results of the expense have been compared with the obtained DRG, both for each single case and also for homogeneous group of grave and slight pancreatitis. This comparison showed that the obtained gain through DRG is: a) insufficient to cover the expenses of the grave pancreatitis cases; b) clearly positive in the slight cases. This last result has been very important in the final balance; in fact is only for this positive result that final balance was economically favourable.