Der Chirurg; Zeitschrift für alle Gebiete der operativen Medizen
-
Acute pancreatitis is potentially fatal. It can be diagnosed based on present history, clinical appearance, and typical findings from laboratory and radiologic investigations. All patients must be admitted to hospital, as the disease course cannot be predicted at initial presentation. ⋯ The roles of antibiotic therapy and nutritional support in the therapeutic regimen have been profoundly reassessed during recent years. Surgery and endoscopic interventions may be necessary and beneficial in carefully selected patients. In this review we summarize clinically relevant issues of acute pancreatitis.