Defined, low threshold for caesarean section and multidisciplinary team management improves fetal outcome from acute pancreatitis in pregnancy.

Background: Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy (APIP) is associated with increased maternal and fetal mortality.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether a low threshold for cesarean section (C-section) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) or Predict SAP improves maternal and fetal outcomes in patients with APIP.

Methods: We identified patients with APIP at a single institution from a prospective database and studied fetal and maternal health in APIP before (2005-2014) and after (2015-2019) introduction of multidisciplinary team management with a defined, lowered threshold for C-section. The primary end point was fetal mortality comprising abortion and perinatal death. Risk factors associated with fetal mortality were analyzed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results: A total of 165 patients with APIP were eligible for analysis. There was a highly significant increase in patients undergoing C-section from 37 (30.8%) of 120 during 2005-2014 to 27 (60%) of 45 in 2015-2019 (P = 0.001), with a highly significant fall in fetal mortality from 37 (30.8%) of 120 to 3 (6.7%) of 45 between the same periods (P = 0.001), when maternal mortality fell from 6 to zero (P = 0.19). Maternal early systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (odds ratio [OR] 6.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53, 30.80, P = 0.01) and SAP (OR 3.64, 95%CI 1.25, 10.60, P = 0.02) were two independent risk factors associated with fetal mortality.

Conclusions: Multidisciplinary collaboration and a defined, low threshold for C-section improve fetal outcomes in patients with APIP.