Vascular Complications – Poor Prognostic Factors in Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Background: Various complications occur after the onset of acute pancreatitis. Aproximately 9–11% of the patients with severe acute pancreatitis may develop vascular complications such as haemorrhage, ischaemic visceral lessions, tromboses on the portal venous system and formation of aneurysms.
Aim: To determine the incidence of these complication and to analyze the therapeutic approach for these patients.
Method: We realized a retrospective study on 279 patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), defined by the Atlanta criteria. In this group we annalized the incidence of vascular complications, the therapeutic methods for their solving and the risk for developing complications and mortality.
Results: The incidence of vascular events was 14.33%.Hemorrhagic complications had a higher incidence and were present in 32 patients (80%). Only 8 patients (20%) presented major ischaemic events. The most commonly involved organ in ischaemic lessions was the colon.
Conclusions: Vascular complications, although rare (leading to an increased morbidity and mortality), may jeopardize the patients’ life. Their diagnosis and treatement becomes possible only by the clinician vigilance on their potential occurence using modern investigative methods.