[Long-term outcome of surgical therapy of acute necrotizing pancreatitis]

This paper discusses the long-term results after surgical treatment of necrotizing pancreatitis. Thirty-one patients were examined 3 years after the operation. The development of diabetes was the main problem in 29% of the patients and depended on the amount of pancreatic tissue resected (never after necrosectomy, in 47% after pancreatic resection; P = 0.005, Fischer's exact test). Of the patients, 77% were in good general condition and 68% were able to work. In 50% of the patients abdominal wall function was impaired but most of them could cope with this insufficiency. Of the patients with alcohol-induced pancreatitis, 75% were abstinent. Considering the severity of the disease, long-term results after surgical treatment of necrotizing pancreatitis are satisfactory.