Operative timing and indications for patients with severe acute pancreatitis: report of 172 cases.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the operative timing and indications for severe acute pancreatitis SAP.

METHODS

Data collected from 172 patients with SAP treated in our hospital since 1980 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

In the 94 patients who had undergone early operation before June 1992, 57 (62.8%) healed 35 (37.2%) died and 16 (17.0%) had no postoperative complications. In the 78 patients who had been treated after July 1992 according to the principle of "individualization" 66 (84.6%) healed 12 (15.4%) died and 37 (47.4%) had no postoperative complications. In the 78 patients 32 received non-operative treatment but 30 (93.8%) cured 12 early operation but 7(58.3%) cured 18 late operation but 13 (72.2%) cured and 16 selected time operation but all cured.

CONCLUSIONS

IT is concluded that individualized therapy is effective and reasonable for treating SAP. The indications for early late and selected time operation should be emphasized.