Background Hemoconcentration may be an important factor that determines the progression of severe acute pancreatitis （SAP）. In addition, it has been proposed that biomarkers may be useful in predicting subsequent necrosis in SAP. However, it is still uncertain whether hemodilution in a short term can improve outcome. We aimed to investigate the effect of rapid hemodilution on the outcome of patients with SAP. Methods One hundred and fifteen patients were admitted prospectively according to the criteria within 24 hours of SAP onset. Patients were randomly assigned to either rapid hemodilution （hematocrit （HCT） 〈35%, n=56） or slow hemodilution （HCT 〉35%, n=-59） within 48 hours of onset. Balthazar CT scores were calculated on admission, day 7, and day 14, after onset of the disease. Time interval for sepsis presented, incidence of sepsis within 28 days and in-hospital survival rate were determined. Results The amount of fluid used in rapid hemodilution was significantly more than that used in slow hemodilution （P 〈0.05） on the admission day, the first day, and the second day. There were significant differences between the rapid and slow hemodilution group in terms of hematocrit, oxygenation index, pH values, APACHE II scores and organ dysfunction at different time during the first week. There were significant differences in the time interval to sepsis in rapid hemodilution （（7.4±1.9） days） compared with the slow hemodilution group （（10.2±2.3） days）, and the incidence of sepsis （78.6%） was higher in the rapid group compared to the slow （57.6%） in the first 28 days. The survival rate of the slow hemodilution group （84.7%） was better than the rapid hemodilution （66.1%. P 〈0.05）. Conclusions Rapid hemodilution can increase the incidence of sepsis within 28 days and in-hospital mortality. Hematocrit should be maintained between 30%-40% in the acute response stage.
MAO En-qiangFEI JianPENG Yi-bingHUANG JieTANG Yao-qingZHANG Sheng-dao
Background Fluid therapy for severe acute pancreatitis （SAP） should not only resolve deficiency of blood volume, but also prevent fluid sequestration in acute response stage. Up to date, there has not a strategy for fluid therapy dedicated to SAP. So, this study was aimed to investigate the effects of fluid therapy treatment on prognosis of SAP. Methods Seventy-six patients were admitted prospectively according to the criteria within 72 hours of SAP onset. They were randomly assigned to a rapid fluid expansion group （Group I, n=36） and a controlled fluid expansion group （Group II n=-40）. Hemodynamic disorders were either quickly （fluid infusion rate was 10-15 ml.kg-1-h-1, Group I） or gradually improved （fluid infusion rate was 5-10 ml-kg1.h-1, Group II） through controlling the rate of fluid infusion. Parameters of fluid expansion, blood lactate concentration were obtained when meeting the criteria for fluid expansion. And APACHE II scores were obtained serially for 72 hours. Rate of mechanical ventilation, incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome （ACS）, sepsis, and survival rate were obtained. Results The two groups had statistically different （P 〈0.05） time intervals to meet fluid expansion criteria （Group I, 13.5±6.6 hours; Group II, （24.0±5.4） hours）. Blood lactate concentrations were both remarkably lower as compared to the level upon admission （P 〈0.05） and reached the normal level in both groups upon treatment. It was only at day 1 that hematocrit was significantly lower in Group I （35.6%±6.8%） than in Group II （38.5%±5.4%） （P〈0.01）. Amount of crystalloid and colloid in group I （（4028±1980）ml and （1336±816）ml） on admission day was more than those of group II （（2472±1871）ml and （970±633）ml）. No significant difference was found in the total amount of fluids within four days of admission between the two groups （P〉0.05）. Total amount of fluid sequestration within 4 days was higher in Group I （（5378±2751）ml�
MAO En-qiang TANG Yao-qing FEI Jian QIN Shuai WU Jun LI Lei MIN Dong ZHANG Sheng-dao
