Published online Dec 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i12.840
Revised: October 7, 2014
Accepted: October 23, 2014
Published online: December 16, 2014
Necrosis of pancreatic parenchyma or extrapancreatic tissues is present in 10%-20% of patients with acute pancreatitis, defining the necrotizing presentation frequently associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. During the initial phase of acute necrotizing pancreatitis the most important pillars of medical treatment are fluid resuscitation, early enteral nutrition, endoscopic retrograde colangiopancreatography if associated cholangitis and intensive care unit support. When infection of pancreatic or extrapancreatic necrosis occurs, surgical approach constitutes the most accepted therapeutic option. In this context, we have recently assited to changes in time for surgery (delaying the indication if possible to around 4 wk to deal with “walled-off” necrosis) and type of access for necrosectomy: from a classical open approach (with closure over large-bore drains for continued postoperative lavage or semiopen techniques with scheduled relaparotomies), trends have changed to a “step-up” philosophy with initial percutaneous drainage and posterior minimally invasive or endoscopic access to the retroperitoneal cavity for necrosectomy if no improvement has been previously achieved. These approaches are progressively gaining popularity and morbidity and mortality rates have decreased significantly. Therefore, a staged, multidisciplinary, step-up approach with minimally invasive or endoscopic access for necrosectomy is widely accepted nowadays for management of pancreatic necrosis.
Core tip: We have recently assisted to a significant change in surgical approach to acute pancreatitis. Infection continues as the most important pillar where surgical indication is established. Nevertheless, from an early consideration for surgery frequently performed by classical open approach, today we have moved to delay the indication and the procedure as much as possible with step-up philosophies trying to deal with “walled-off” necrosis and considering minimally invasive access like video-assisted retroperitoneal or endoscopic. In this paper, most recent therapeutic trends for acute necrotizing pancreatitis are reviewed.