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©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 28, 2009; 15(24): 2945-2959
Published online Jun 28, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.2945
Published online Jun 28, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.2945
Acute pancreatitis at the beginning of the 21st century: The state of the art
Alfredo F Tonsi, Department of General Surgery, East Surrey Hospital, Canada Avenue, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 5RH, United kingdom
Matilde Bacchion, Stefano Crippa, Giuseppe Malleo, Claudio Bassi, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, 37134 - Verona, Italy
Author contributions: Tonsi AF contributed to manuscript preparation, manuscript editing and was the primary writer of the manuscript; Bacchion M, Crippa S and Malleo G reviewed the manuscript; Bassi C was involved in the conception of the editorial, manuscript editing and manuscript review.
Correspondence to: Claudio Bassi, MD, FRCS, Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, "G.B. Rossi" Borgo Roma Hospital, University of Verona, 37134 - Verona, Italy. claudio.bassi@univr.it
Telephone: +39-45-8124553
Fax: +39-45-8201294
Received: April 17, 2009
Revised: May 9, 2009
Accepted: May 16, 2009
Published online: June 28, 2009
Revised: May 9, 2009
Accepted: May 16, 2009
Published online: June 28, 2009
Abstract
Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the pancreas which can lead to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome with significant morbidity and mortality in 20% of patients. Gallstones and alcohol consumption are the most frequent causes of pancreatitis in adults. The treatment of mild acute pancreatitis is conservative and supportive; however severe episodes characterized by necrosis of the pancreatic tissue may require surgical intervention. Advanced understanding of the pathology, and increased interest in assessment of disease severity are the cornerstones of future management strategies of this complex and heterogeneous disease in the 21st century.
Keywords: Acute necrotizing pancreatitis, Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, Surgery, Pancreatectomy, Minimal surgical procedures