[Pregnancy and severe pancreatitis (author's transl)]

We studied the relationship between pregnancy and pancreatitis together with reviewing the bibliography after having had 4 cases. As far as the aetiology is concerned there does not seem to be a mechanical factor associated with the pregnant uterus but a vesicular factor (gall bladder) of stasis and hypersecretion, with hyperlipidaemia of pregnancy and pancreatic oversecretion in pregnancy, all of which are finally associated with a neuro-vegetative lack of tone and with the part played by certain drugs that are often prescribed in pregnancy. The fetal prognosis is relatively good except for the risks of premature delivery. Management of a case of acute severe pancreatitis is difficult to work out. All the same, the treatment should be above all conservative, which means medical. Surgery should be reserved for those cases with definite indications such as progressive deterioration in spite of medical treatment with the knowledge beforehand that it will not make much difference to the final prognosis.