title: [Severe acute pancreatitis. Clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic features].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to define the actual role of surgical therapy in severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis has been carried out on the surgical treatment of severe acute pancreatitis at the Institute of General Surgery and Surgical Specialties, University of Siena (Italy). From January 1980 to December 1997, 230 patients affected by acute pancreatitis were admitted to institution: 24 patients affected by severe disease (necrotizing pancreatitis: clinical and radiological diagnosis, by CT-scan) was choosen for this study. Of 24 patients, 15 were males and 9 females, with mean age of 55 years (range 30-80). In all cases, surgical procedure consisted in pancreatic necrosectomy, multiple abdominal and retroperitoneal drainage and closed management; operated patients with biliary pancreatitis underwent colecystectomy and, if necessary, common biliary duct drainage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients underwent surgical procedure, but the remaining 14 were treated by intensive medical care: mortality in these two groups was respectively 40% (4 cases) and 21% (3 cases).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The conclusion is drawn that intensive medical care is the first therapeutic approach in severe acute pancreatitis, reserving surgery only to selected cases, as those affected by pancreatic infectes necrosis or those who get worse despite of conservative therapy. As to surgical technique, closed procedures vs open or semiopen, and conservative surgery (necrosectomy, multiple drainage and abdominal washing) vs anatomical resection are preferred.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chirurgia Generale e Specialità Chirurgiche, Nuovo Policlinico Le Scotte, Università degli Studi, Siena. tani@unisi.it
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Testi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poggialini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Martino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coratti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spagnulo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
vernacular_title: La pancreatite acuta grave. Aspetti clinici, diagnostici e terapeutici.