Do guidelines influence medical practice? Changes in management of acute pancreatitis 7 years after the publication of the French guidelines

Objectives The elaboration and publication of guidelines should help homogenizing the management of frequent diseases with high mortality and morbidity rates, such as acute pancreatitis. Aim To evaluate the implementation of French guidelines on the management of acute pancreatitis (AP), and to correlate changes with a received medical training course. Methods In 2001 (before the Consensus Conference) and 2008, the same questionnaire dealing with recommendations for AP management was sent to the French gastroenterology Units. Responses in 2001 and 2008 were compared. Results One hundred and seventy-six questionnaires were analyzed (public hospitals: 62%, academic hospitals: 20%, private institutions: 18%). In 2008 (vs. 2001), lipase levels were measured for establishing AP diagnosis by 99% (vs. 83%). To evaluate AP severity, a computed tomography (CT) scan was performed at 48 h by 69% (vs. 29%, P <= 0.001). The most used severity index was the CT Balthazar score 76% (vs. 55%, P <= 0.001). Antibiotic prophylaxis and artificial nutrition by enteral route were proposed by 20% (vs. 57%) and 58% (vs. 25%) for necrotizing pancreatitis. Practices were more frequently in agreement with the guidelines in public nonacademic and academic hospitals. Training course on AP management was associated with a more appropriate use of CT scan for the evaluation of AP severity and of antibiotics. Conclusion Major changes were noticed since the publication of the French guidelines. Although establishing guidelines is an expensive process, it does increase compliance with best evidence-based practice. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 24:143-148 (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.