Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Robotic Lateral Pancreaticojejunostomy for Chronic Pancreatitis
Published on: December 14, 2019
Can infected pancreatic necrosis really be managed conservatively?
Bilal Al-Sarireh1, Nicholas G Mowbray, Ali Al-Sarira
1Department of General Surgery, ABM University Health Board, Swansea, UK.
Objectives:
Guidelines advocate minimally invasive drainage rather than open surgery for infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) after acute pancreatitis. We hypothesized that the conservative approach could be extended even further by treating patients using an antibiotics-only protocol.
Patients And Methods:
Between June 2009 and July 2017, patients with IPN were selectively managed with carbapenem antibiotics for a minimum of 6 weeks. We compared these patients with patients who underwent minimal access retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy (MARPN) for IPN to identify characteristics of this patient group.
Results:
Of 33 patients with radiologically proven IPN, 13 patients received antibiotics without any surgical or radiological intervention and resulted in no disease-specific mortality and one case of pancreatic insufficiency. In comparison, 44 patients underwent MARPN with a mortality of 20%, and 81.8% developed pancreatic insufficiency. The modified Glasgow score and computed tomography severity score was less in the antibiotic-only group (P<0.001 and P=0.014, respectively). Patients who underwent MARPN had lower serum haemoglobin and albumin levels (P=0.030 and 0.001, respectively), and a higher C-reactive protein (P=0.027).
Conclusion:
Conservative treatment of IPN with antibiotics is a valid management option for haemodynamically stable patients experiencing less severe disease, requiring careful selection by experienced clinicians.
Insights
Antibiotics alone can effectively treat infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) in select stable patients, avoiding surgery and reducing complications like pancreatic insufficiency. This conservative approach offers a viable alternative to invasive procedures.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Innovation
- Infectious Disease Management
Background:
- Current guidelines favor minimally invasive drainage over open surgery for infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN).
- The study explores extending conservative management further with an antibiotics-only protocol for IPN.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of an antibiotics-only protocol for treating infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN).
- To compare outcomes of antibiotic-only treatment with minimal access retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy (MARPN).
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 33 patients with IPN treated with carbapenem antibiotics for at least 6 weeks.
- Comparison with 44 patients who underwent MARPN for IPN.
Main Results:
- The antibiotics-only group had no disease-specific mortality and one case of pancreatic insufficiency.
- The MARPN group experienced 20% mortality and 81.8% pancreatic insufficiency.
- Antibiotic-treated patients had lower severity scores and better inflammatory markers.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotics-only treatment is a valid option for hemodynamically stable IPN patients with less severe disease.
- Careful patient selection by experienced clinicians is crucial for successful conservative management of IPN.
Related Concept Videos
Necrosis
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become...
What is Conservation Biology?
Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Conservation of Small Populations
Conserved Binding Sites
Binding sites are often located in large pockets, and if their location on a protein’s surface is unknown, it can be predicted using various approaches. The energetic method computationally...
Urinary Tract Infection IV: Nursing Management

