[Acute necrotizing pancreatitis and post-operative irrigation-lavage]

A series of 62 operated cases of acute necroto-hemorrhagic pancreatitis is presented along with discussion of the four principle objectives of surgical treatment: exposure, evaluation and selective resection of the lesions followed by close observation. Based on peroperative determination of anatomic site and macroscopic character, a double codification for each lesion is proposed. This codification provides the surgeon an objective basis for his choice of the type of procedure to be done. The surgery itself has a dual purpose: to eradicate frank necrosis and to protect the remaining tissue from autodigestion by installing one or more drains for irrigation and lavage of the lesion site. In the case of stage 3 necrosis, the procedure must include a left pancreatectomy of varying extent.