Pancreatic injury in severe trauma: early diagnosis and therapy improve the outcome.

Background: Pancreatic injury is a dangerous complication in multiple injury, and experience with its diagnosis and treatment is usually limited.

Method: Retrospective analysis of 3,840 patients admitted after multiple trauma from January 1, 1982, until May 31, 2000.

Results: A laparotomy was performed in 121 cases (3.