[Surgical indications, timing and method in acute pancreatitis]

Treatment for acute pancreatitis was received by 462 patients at the Surgical Hospital of Greifswald University, between 1976 and 1986. Surgical therapy was applied to 117 of 141 patients with necrotising pancreatitis. Lethality rates were 46 per cent in a group with partial necrosis and 86 per cent in another with total necrosis. The Ranson approach was used in operations on 63 of 90 patients with partial necrosis. Their lethality amounted to 23 per cent. 27 patients were given surgical treatment, in spite of unfavourable prognosis, only up to ten days from onset of acute pancreatitis. Lethality in this group was 78.5 per cent. Proper localisation of the necrotic focus is important to prognosis, just as good timing of surgical intervention. Lethality rates were 25 per cent for resection in the caudal region and 38 per cent for necrosectomy of the pars lienalis. Necrosis in the head region entailed a lethality rate of 90 per cent in response to necrosectomy and a rate of 64 per cent with additional lavage. The prognosis of pancrease necrosis is affected by timing and method of surgery. Timing should depend on the clinical pattern, laboratory parameters as well as on findings recorded by computed tomography and ultrasound. Aetiological aspects and location of the process must be considered for choice of surgical techniques. Necrectomy, lavage, and revision of bile ducts seem to be adequate surgical methods.