Infections complicating severe pancreatitis.

Infections accompanying severe pancreatitis are secondary and of three types: infected pancreatic necrosis, infected pseudocyst (including peripancreatic fluid collection), and pancreatic abscess. The first is an earlier, more morbid process, with antibiotics supportive and surgical debridement necessary. The latter two processes occur later in the course of pancreatitis and are less morbid. Antibiotics are supportive and invasive-nonsurgical drainage methods are possible. The decision for intervention is based first on clinical toxicity as determined by an overall assessment by the clinician. The presence of parenchymal necrosis is best determined by the dynamic bolus CT scan. The presence of infection is best determined by percutaneous CT-guided aspiration. Infected necrosis is fatal unless treated with operative intervention. A peripancreatic fluid collection, pseudocyst, or pancreatic abscess needs to be treated if symptomatic. If infected, as determined by CT-guided needle aspiration, then they should be drained. Radiologic or endoscopic invasive-nonsurgical methods are tried initially and then surgery is attempted if they fail. The nonsurgical methods are most successful with pancreatitis of a nonbiliary or a nonalcohol etiology.