Prevalencia de pancreatitis aguda en menores de 18 años de edad ingresados en el Hospital Roberto Gilbert Elizalde en el período enero 2015 – diciembre 2019.

Abstract

Background: Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory process of the entire pancreas parenchyma, it is reversible although it can present with varying degrees of necrosis, apoptosis and hemorrhage. The evidence on the prevalence of the disease is fluctuating due to the geographic location where the research is carried out. Globally, it is estimated that up to 1 in 10,000 children. Unlike the series in adults, the most common cause described is idiopathic, followed by abdominal trauma. Likewise, the severity predictor scales established in adults have failed to be applied to the pediatric population. Methods: An observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out. All patients with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis treated at the Roberto Gilbert Elizalde Hospital in the period January 2015 - December 2019 were included in the study. Results: A total of 54 patients were found, the average age was 9.8 years and the sex female predominated (74.1%). The mean hospital stay was 14.4 days. Among the most frequent etiologies, the obstructive cause was reported as the most common (37%). Pain was the most reported symptom in cases of pancreatitis (90.7%), followed by vomiting (77.8%) and fever (31.4%). 14.2% had pulmonary complications and 5.3% infectious complications. Only one patient died (1.9%). Conclusions: The prevalence of acute pancreatitis at the Roberto Gilbert Hospital in the period January 2015 - December 2019 was 0.069% of hospitalizations. The most frequent cause of pancreatitis was obstructive, followed by idiopathic and trauma.