[Treatment of acute destructive pancreatitis]

The authors analyse observations over 113 patients (1978-1988) with destructive pancreatitis; there were 54 males and 59 females, whose ages ranged from 18 to 85 years. Complex nonoperative treatment was effective only in 17 patients. Cholecystectomy, cholecystostomy or choledochotomy was performed in 7 patients after their condition had improved. Eighty-eight patients underwent operation in the acute period. Total lethality was 71.6%. In summarizing the results the authors came to the conclusion that operative interventions should be postponed in clinical practice. The optimal time for the operation is 6-9 days after the onset of the disease.