What is the most common complication associated with acute pancreatitis?

The most common complication associated with acute pancreatitis is the development of a pseudocyst. Pseudocysts are fluid collections that occur due to the breakdown of pancreatic tissue and leakage of pancreatic enzymes, which can happen during an episode of acute pancreatitis. These fluid collections are often surrounded by a wall of fibrous tissue that forms in response to the inflammation.

Pseudocysts can develop weeks after the initial inflammatory event and may remain asymptomatic or lead to complications such as infection, rupture, or pressure effects on surrounding organs. Their formation is quite prevalent in patients with a history of acute pancreatitis, making them the most common complication noted in clinical practice.

In contrast, while abscesses, phlegmon, and bowel obstruction are potential complications of acute pancreatitis, they are less common than pseudocysts. An abscess represents a localized infection that may occur due to necrotizing pancreatitis, phlegmon denotes a spreading inflammatory process, and bowel obstruction, while occurring, is not specifically tied to the typical course of acute pancreatitis in the same manner as pseudocyst formation. Hence, focusing on the pathophysiological processes systemic to acute pancreatitis elucidates why pseudocysts are identified as the most common complication.