title: Lung injury in acute pancreatitis: mechanisms, prevention, and therapy.
abstract: Lung injury is the most pertinent manifestation of extra-abdominal organ dysfunction in pancreatitis. The propensity of this retroperitoneal inflammatory condition to engender a diffuse and life-threatening lung injury is significant. Approximately one third of patients will develop acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, which account for 60% of all deaths within the first week. The variability in the clinical course of pancreatitis renders it a vexing entity and makes demonstration of the efficacy of any specific intervention difficult. The distinct pathologic entity of pancreatitis-associated lung injury is reviewed with a focus on etiology and potential therapeutic maneuvers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Surgery, Cork University Hospital, and National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Conor J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: Desmond C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: H Paul
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Redmond
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion; D006801:Humans; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction