Outcome of severe acute pancreatitis: is there a role for conservative management of infected pancreatic necrosis?

Background: Infected pancreatic necrosis is associated with high morbidity and mortality and is mandatory for surgical or radiological intervention. A selected group of patients with CT evidence of infected pancreatic necrosis and a comparatively lower APACHE score may be clinically stable throughout the course of their illness.

Methods: Case records of 52 patients with severe acute pancreatitis admitted from October 2000 to September 2005 were retrospectively analysed to assess the feasibility of conservative management of infected pancreatic necrosis.