Objectives: Contrast CT is widely used to assess the severity of acute pancreatitis. Recently, studies in rats have shown that the administration of i.v. contrast material worsens the outcome of experimental acute pancreatitis. The aim of the current study was to determine if an effect of the administration of i.v. contrast could be identified in clinical acute pancreatitis.
Methods: Charts from the University of Kentucky Hospital from 1992 with an ICD-9 code of acute pancreatitis were reviewed. APACHE II scores at diagnosis of pancreatitis were calculated for all patients. The duration of clinical pancreatitis was determined from the date of onset of pain to the date of resolution of pain and resumption of oral nutrition. Contrast CT and noncontrast groups were compared using a Mann-Whitney rank sum test.
Results: There was no significant difference in the original APACHE II scores between the two groups. The contrast CT group had a mean duration of clinical pancreatitis of 10.8 days versus 6.2 days for the non-CT group (p = 0.004).
Conclusions: This retrospective study supports the conclusions of recent animal studies that suggest that i.v. contrast might worsen or prolong attacks of acute pancreatitis.