[Infected necroses and pancreatic abscess: surgical therapy]

Infected pancreatic necrosis and pancreatic abscesses are severe complications of necrotizing pancreatitis. Compared to infected necrosis, pancreatic abscess is associated with lower mortality. Surgical treatment is the current standard. Necrosectomy is performed as a single-step operation in combination with postoperative drainage/lavage or as scheduled reoperation. In selected cases, pancreatic abscesses can be successfully drained by percutaneous interventional drainage. Mortality in infected necrosis is 20-30% and 5-10% in patients with pancreatic abscess.