Correlates of organ failure in severe acute pancreatitis.

Context: The clinical course of severe acute pancreatitis may be complicated by organ failure.

Objective: We studied the incidence of organ failure and the correlation of the extent of necrosis and infective necrosis with organ failure.

Methods: The medical records of 161 patients with severe acute pancreatitis and persistent organ failure over a 4-year period were studied.

Emphysematous pancreatitis. Radiological curiosity or a cause for concern?

Context: Emphysematous pancreatitis is a rare, potentially fatal variant of severe acute pancreatitis with gas in the pancreatic bed. There are isolated case reports describing this condition.

Objective: This report summarizes our experience with the management of this condition in order to compare its clinical characteristics, microbiological and radiological features, surgical management and the outcome of patients with emphysematous pancreatitis and non-emphysematous infected pancreatic necrosis.

Lung complications in acute pancreatitis.

Context: Severe acute pancreatitis has long been known to be a cause of pulmonary dysfunction and multisystem organ failure.

Objective: We evaluated the spectrum of pulmonary dysfunction in acute pancreatitis.

Methods: Over a period of one year, 60 patients referred to us with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis on the basis of clinical findings, CT and elevated serum amylase level were studied prospectively.