Severe polytrauma. Intraabdominal pressure. Instrumental predictors of acute pancreatitis

The study included 134 patients with severe polytraumas. All patients were examined using computed tomography. Among 86 patients who had dilation of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) during 3-5 days and narrowing of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) on days 5-7, 69 individuals (80.2%) developed signs of acute pancreatitis confirmed by both ultrasonography and laboratory data. An increase in intraabdominal pressure above 15 mm Hg was associated with pronounced edema of the pancreas with the destruction of the parenchyma. Conclusion. We recommend using the following instrumental predictors of acute pancreatitis in patients with severe polytrauma: SMA dilation and SMV narrowing. Patients with a persistent increase of intraabdominal pressure should receive preventive therapy for acute pancreatitis.