OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the clinical character and therapeutic strategy and prognosis in severe acute pancreatitis.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to December 2005, 783 patients with SAP were treated. Therapeutic strategy was selected based on the preliminary scheme for diagnosis and treatment of severe acute pancreatitis by pancreatic surgery society of CMA. All the patients were divided into biliary group and non-biliary group, while 375 patients in biliary group, with 182 patients treated operatively and 193 patients treated nonoperatively; and 408 patients in non-biliary group, with 147 patients treated operatively and 261 patients treated nonoperatively.

RESULTSThere were 698 survivals, the overall survival rate was 89.1%. 357 survivals in the biliary SAP group, the survival rate was 95.0%, in which 171 survivals from operation treated cases, with the survival rate of 94.0%, and 186 survivals from non-operation treated cases, with the survival rate of 96.4%; 341 survivals in the non-biliary SAP group, the survival rate was 84.0%, in which 110 survivals from operation treated cases, with the survival rate of 74.8%, and 231 survivals from non-operation treated cases, with the survival rate of 88.5%. 48.3% patients of the survival group had organ dysfunction, and 18.3% patients had multiple organ dysfunctions, while 100% patients of the death group had organ dysfunction, and 97.6% patients had multiple organ dysfunction. Respiratory dysfunction was found to be the most common cause totally followed by nerve system dysfunction and shock, with the rates of 26.3%, 11.7% and 10.3%, respectively. Respiratory dysfunction, renal dysfunction and cardiac dysfunction are most commonly in death group, with the rate of 94.1%, 60.0% and 60.0%, respectively. The rate of fungi infection in the survival group and death group were 8.9% and 37.6%. The rates of alimentary tract fistula in the survival and death group were 0.9% and 14.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe therapy aiming at the cause for biliary SAP and the operation aiming at infected pancreatic necrosis is helpful to improve curative rate; MODS is the main cause of death in severe acute pancreatitis. Respiratory dysfunction, renal dysfunction and cardiac dysfunction are high risk factors.