Spectrum of Pulmonary Dysfunctions in Acute Pancreatitis its Correlation with the Clinical Outcome - A Retrospective Study

Akhtar Shamim, Sharma Rajiv, Neethu Thomas, Madhu Kanodia, Mittal Shubham

Abstract: Background: Acute pancreatitis in its severe form may lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multisystem organ dysfunction. Respiratory dysfunction precedes heart, liver and kidney failure and is responsible for early deaths in SAP. In the present study we intend to identify the spectrum of pulmonary complications at base line in patients with acute pancreatitis, correlate these with the outcome and define the significance of respiratory complications developing during the course of hospitalization. Methodology: This retrospective study was done on patients admitted in St Stephen?s Hospital Tis Hazari Delhi during the period of January 2024 to July 2025. Patients were diagnosed of acute pancreatitis based on elevated serum amylase/ lipase level (elevated ? 3 times of the upper limit) level, clinical findings, and computed tomography (CT) were enrolled. Pancreatitis severity was evaluated based on computed tomography severe index (CTSI). All the patients underwent Chest X-rays and Arterial blood gas analysis. Results: The overall mean age was 38.96 ? 16.4 years with an age range 19-70 years. Fifty six patients were enrolled in the study among which 41[73.2%] males and 15 [26.8%] females. The most common etiology was alcohol in 24 patients (42.8%), gall stones in 19 (33.9%), idiopathic in 11 (19.6%) and iatrogenic in two cases. The CSTI mean value (mean ? SD) was 8.16?2.20. A significant positive correlation was observed between hypoxemia and severity of pancreatitis with all patients with CTSI above 9 having some degree of hypoxemia (p <0.001). In addition, the presence of pleural effusion, pneumonia, ARDS and respiratory failure but not atelectasis, were positively correlated with the severity of pancreatitis. Conclusion: Moderate to severe hypoxemia on presentation is a poor predictor of outcome in patients with acute pancreatitis as well as corelates with severity and progress of the disease. In addition, high CT severity index is found to be associated with pulmonary involvement and other organ dysfunctions. Early diagnosis and effective management of pulmonary complications is imperative to improve the outcome.

Keywords: Acute Pancreatitis, Pulmonary dysfunction, ARDS, CTSI, Hypoxemia

How to Cite?: Akhtar Shamim, Sharma Rajiv, Neethu Thomas, Madhu Kanodia, Mittal Shubham, "Spectrum of Pulmonary Dysfunctions in Acute Pancreatitis its Correlation with the Clinical Outcome - A Retrospective Study", Volume 14 Issue 9, September 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 431-436, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25909194432, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25909194432