[The conservative treatment of acute pancreatitis in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1977 (author's transl)].

A questionnaire on the conservative treatment of acute pancreatitis was answered by 312 surgical [n = 139] and medical [n = 173] departments from all over Western Germany and from West-Berlin. Nearly total positive agreement was found about routine administration of parenteral fluids and on the prohibition of oral food and fluids. The application of glucocorticoids, glucagon, heparin in small doses and of a carboanhydrase inhibitor [Diamox] is rejected by most of the departments. Renal failure is treated in 63% by hemodialysis and in 37% by peritoneal dialysis. There is great disagreement between the answers about the administration of atropine, antacids and aprotinin [Trasylol]. Antibiotics are applied routinely by 63% of the surgical and 70% of the medical departments.