Changing incidence of acute pancreatitis: 10-year experience at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and etiology of acute pancreatitis at a major pediatric referral center in Australia. METHODS: A 10-year retrospective audit was conducted at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. All patients from 1993 and 2002 with a serum lipase level greater than three times the upper reference range and a history consistent with acute pancreatitis were included. RESULTS: During the 10-year period, 279 confirmed cases of acute pancreatitis were identified. The median age at presentation was 10 years (range, 0.2-15.9). In 209 (74.9%) patients, a likely cause of acute pancreatitis was found, including trauma (36.3%), syste..