[Clinical aspects of acute pancreatitis].

55 patients with acute pancreatitis were treated at this institution between 1979 and 1984. The female/male ratio was 3:2. Biliary pancreatitis was found in 51%. In 15% alcohol was the cause, while in 34% the etiology remained unknown. The main symptoms were acute abdominal pain (100%), nausea and vomiting (51%), fever (35%), and peritoneal irritation (27%). Twenty-two patients were treated conservatively, while the remainder underwent surgery either in or after the acute phase of the disease. Hospital mortality was 0% for a Ranson Score up to 4.25% for 5/6 and 50% for greater than 6.