[The effect of hypovolaemic shock on the pancreas (author's transl)]

Morphological changes similar to those found in acute pancreatitis were found at autopsy of ten patients who had died following temporary hypovolaemic shock. In an experimental study it was demonstrated by means of electromagnetic flow measurements that hypovolaemic shock results in a significant decrease in pancreatic flow, which is paralleled by a significant decrease in oxygen consumption of the organ in spite of a compensatory increase in the arterio-venous oxyhaemoglobin difference. These haemodynamic changes are followed by hypoxic cell damage mainly in the periphereal areas of the pancreatic acini, with resultant necrosis, as found in acute pancreatitis.