[Therapy of acute pancreatitis]

Despite our increasing knowledge in the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis therapeutic strategies based on this knowledge, such as inhibition of proteases, are not convincing. It is most likely that these strategies are initiated to late after the onset of pancreatitis. It is of utmost importance to clarify the severity of the disease for planning interdisciplinary approaches: therapy of pain, enteral nutrition via a jejunal tube, as well as treatment of extrapancreatic complications, such as respiratory insufficiency, coagulopathy, and renal insufficiency. A key role plays the exact balance of potential high fluid losses. Prophylactic application of antibiotics such as imipenem in cases of necrotizing pancreatitis to prevent infection is widely used. Infected necroses are an indication for surgery. In biliary pancreatitis one has to remove impacted bile duct stones via ERCP and papillotomy followed by elective cholecystectomy.