TH7.9 A retrospective audit of the investigation and management of acute pancreatitis (AP) in a tertiary referral hospital in Ireland

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Aims</jats:title> <jats:p>This audit aims to determine if standards of best practice according to NICE guideline pancreatitis (September 2018) are being met.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>Using the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) system, 129 admissions with AP during 2020 were retrospectively identified. Audit targets included adequate fluid resuscitation and nutritional support, frequency of radiological investigations, emergency cholecystectomy, lifestyle advice and appropriate follow up.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Aetiologies identified were biliary (33.3%), alcohol (33.3%), idiopathic (7.8%), hypertriglyceridemia (3.8%), autoimmune (1.6%), medication (0.8%), anatomical variant (0.8%) and the remainder (18.6%) were unidentified since not fully investigated (NFI). 47.3% (n=61) had ultrasound while 61.2% (n=79) had computed tomography of abdomen and pelvis (CTAP) during hospital-stay. Out of 33.3% (n=43) with biliary aetiology, 25.6% (n=11) had successful ERCP and 41.9% (n=18) were referred for outpatient clinic or already awaiting outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy. No emergency cholecystectomies were performed. Out of 28 readmissions, biliary pathology accounted for 35.7% (n=10), alcohol 25% (n=7) and NFI 17.9% (n=5). 37.2% (16) of alcoholic pancreatitis admissions had documented cessation advice either as in-patient or on discharge. There was no documentation for HbA1C in 6 months or DEXA scan in 2 years’ time, or a yearly fecal elastase for chronic pancreatitis patients.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title> <jats:p>Audit of current practice identified areas for improvement, including bettering access to emergency theatre, increased focus on encouraging lifestyle modification and monitoring pancreatic endocrine and exocrine function. We aim to create an institutional standard operating procedure for investigating and managing pancreatitis, and re-audit next year to discern if management has moved closer to the established standard.</jats:p> </jats:sec>