Readmission in acute pancreatitis: Etiology, risk factors, and opportunities for improvement

Acute pancreatitis is associated with a readmission rate ranging from 7 to 34%. Readmission rates are highest among biliary (4–37%) and alcohol-induced (2–60%) acute pancreatitis. Severe acute pancreatitis and necrotizing pancreatitis have readmission rates ranging from 20 to 75%. The most common causes of readmission include recurrent acute pancreatitis (17–45% of readmissions) and smoldering symptoms/local complications (17–38%). A number of risk scores reliably estimate risk of readmission in acute pancreatitis. Decreased rates of readmission were reported in patients that underwent same-admission cholecystectomy in biliary pancreatitis and alcohol cessation interventions in alcohol-induced pancreatitis. This review article discusses readmission in acute pancreatitis, including etiology, risk factors, and opportunities for improved patient care.