Utility of amylase and lipase as predictors of grade of injury or outcomes in pediatric patients with pancreatic trauma

IntroductionGrade of injury, serum amylase, and lipase are markers used to assess pancreatic injury. It is unclear how amylase and lipase relate to grade of injury or predict outcome. We hypothesize that serum amylase and lipase are good predictors of grade of injury and outcomes in patients with pancreatic trauma.MethodsThis study is a multicenter review from 9 pediatric trauma centers of all children admitted to their institution over 5 years with a pancreatic injury. Initial as well as peak amylase and lipase values were analyzed with relation to pancreatic grade, length of stay, and outcomes.ResultsOne hundred thirty-one records were analyzed. There were 44 girls and 85 boys with an average age of 9.0 ± 0.4 years. The mean injury severity score (ISS) score was 15.5 ± 1.2 SE. The average length of stay (in days) was analyzed by grades 0 (3.93), 1 (7.73), 2 (13.4), 3 (18.4), 4 (31), and 5 (13.5). Neither initial nor peak amylase/lipase correlated with grade of injury. Neither amylase nor lipase predicted length of stay or mortality. Maximal amylase was highly predictive of developing a pseudocyst.ConclusionThere seems to be limited value for repetitive routine amylase and lipase levels in the management of pediatric trauma patients with pancreatic injury.