Shakeel Ahmad Mir, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Ishfaq Ahmad Gilkar, Aashaq Hussain, Yaqoob Hassan, Abid Hussain
BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis is a potentially lethal condition resulting from an acute inflammatory process in the pancreas usually manifested by upper abdominal pain and raised concentration of pancreatic enzymes in blood, urine, peritoneal fluid at least 3 times the normal. If the cause of the attack can be eliminated no further attacks may ensue. Gall stone diseases and alcohol are the most common causes behind acute pancreatitis, the former is responsible for 30-70% of cases and the latter for 30% of cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS A descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was designed and conducted in the Postgraduate Department of Surgery, Government Medical College, Srinagar. The study was conducted for a period of 2 years from July 2016-July 2018, and included all admitted patients, who showed clinical, biochemical or radiological evidence of pancreatitis. RESULTS The mean age of study population was 39 years. Male to female ratio was 44:56. Most of the patients belong to higher socioeconomic status. In our study, most of the patients were from rural areas consisting of 59%. In 18% of the patients, worms were found to be the causative agent of acute pancreatitis. Etiological factors were found in 64% of the subjects, and in 36% patients no cause was identified and were termed as idiopathic. Amylase and lipase levels were raised (three times normal) in all the patients. CONCLUSION The etiological factor available in our study was present in 64% of the patients of non-gall stone induced pancreatitis. Most common etiological factor was worm induced (ascariasis), followed by drug induced. Among the remaining 36% study group patients, no etiological factor was forth coming.
