A comparison of the Ranson, Glasgow, and APACHE II scoring systems to a multiple organ system score in predicting patient outcome in pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Systems for evaluating acute pancreatitis are useful in hospitalized patients. Traditional systems of evaluation are well established but might be outdated. We propose a Multiple Organ System Score (MOSS) containing data that are more consistently collected and which are accurate in predicting patient outcome.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 49 patients was completed. We determined if the physician obtained all of the variables necessary to calculate Ranson, Glasgow, or APACHE II scores, if these scores were predictive of patient outcome in the form of length of hospital stay (LOS), and if new, more frequently evaluated variables could be used.

RESULTS: None of the patients could be assigned complete scores. According to Spearman rank correlation, both Glasgow and MOSS showed correlation with patient outcome when APACHE II and Ranson did not.

CONCLUSIONS: Although larger studies should be performed, the MOSS is useful in predicting outcomes of patients with acute pancreatitis.