title: Focused open necrosectomy in necrotizing pancreatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The control of sepsis is the primary goal of surgical intervention in patients with infected necrosis. Simple surgical approaches that are easy to reproduce may improve outcomes when specialists in endoscopy are not available. The aim of the present study was to describe the experience with a focused open necrosectomy (FON) in patients with infected necrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective pilot study conducted to compare a semi-open/closed drainage laparotomy and FON with the assistance of peri-operative ultrasound. The incidence of sepsis, dynamics of C-reactive protein (CRP), intensive care unit (ICU)/hospital stay, complication rate and mortality were compared and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From a total of 58 patients, 36 patients underwent a conventional open necrosectomy and 22 patients underwent FON. The latter method resulted in a faster resolution of sepsis and a significant decrease in mean CRP on Day 3 after FON, P = 0.001. Post-operative bleeding was in 1 versus 7 patients and the incidence of intestinal and pancreatic fistula was 2 versus 8 patients when comparing FON to the conventional approach. The median ICU stay was 11.6 versus 23 days and the hospital stay was significantly shorter, 57 versus 72 days, P = 0.024 when comparing FON versus the conventional group. One patient died in the FON group and seven patients died in the laparotomy group, P = 0.139.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FON can be an alternative method to conventional open necrosectomy in patients with infected necrosis and unresolved sepsis.
authors: Department of General and Emergency Surgery, Riga East Clinical University Hospital Gailezers, Riga, Latvia. aslimnicagp@gmail.com
authors: Guntars
authors: G
authors: Pupelis
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Fokin
authors: Kaspars
authors: K
authors: Zeiza
authors: Haralds
authors: H
authors: Plaudis
authors: Anastasija
authors: A
authors: Suhova
authors: Nadezda
authors: N
authors: Drozdova
authors: Viesturs
authors: V
authors: Boka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein