Ascites in acute pancreatitis: not a silent bystander

Ascites in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) is understudied although recent literature hints at its evident role in the final outcome. This study was planned to study the characteristics of ascites in patients of AP and its effect on the disease course and outcome. Consecutive patients of AP were studied and patients with or without ascites were evaluated for the baseline parameters and severity assessment. Ascites was quantified and fluid analyzed for its characteristics. Intraabdominal pressure (IAP) was monitored. The various outcome parameters were compared between the two groups of patients with and without ascites. Of the cohort of 213 patients, 82 (38.5%) developed ascites. Ascites group had significantly higher rates of organ failure (p = 0.001), necrosis (p=