Pleural effusions: a new negative prognostic parameter for acute pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence, localization, and size of pleural effusions in 133 patients with acute pancreatitis.


METHODS
A contrast-enhanced computed tomographic scan was prospectively obtained within 72 h after admission.


RESULTS
Patients with pleural effusions (66 = 50%) had significantly more severe morphological changes of the pancreas and necroses (independent of the size and localization of the effusions and etiology of the acute pancreatitis), more often had a pancreatic pseudocyst, and had a higher mortality rate than patients without this complication.


CONCLUSIONS
Pleural effusions are indicative of severe acute pancreatitis and are a negative prognostic parameter for the course of the disease.
Lankisch
P G
PG
Department of Internal Medicine, Municipal Hospital of Lüneburg, Germany.
Dröge
M
M
Becher
R
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D006801:Humans; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed