[Acute pancreatitis with shock and acute renal failure (author's transl)]

Acute pancreatitis is discussed from the viewpoint of a medical intensive care unit, with particular reference to the early and late complications. The measures which must be promptly implemented in order to successfully combat the grave early complications of shock and acute renal failure are stressed. Continuous monitoring ensures that prompt surgical management is undertaken in cases of late complications-abscess formation, sequestration and sepsis. A review of the characteristic clinical and laboratory data of patients with acute pancreatitis treated in our unit is presented in table I.