[Acute pancreatitis].

Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas mainly due to biliary obstruction or alcohol consumption. Most episodes of acute pancreatitis are mild and resolve under conservative treatment. Severe forms of acute pancreatitis, especially the necrotising form, still have a high mortality rate and can be difficult to treat. The problem today is to identify the few cases that should be treated operatively. Infected necroses are well accepted as an indication for operative treatment. Surgery consists of débridement and necrosectomy followed by closed or open lavage. In biliary pancreatitis, ERCP is performed early in cases of biliary obstruction, with or without cholangitis. In these patients cholecystectomy should be performed electively after clinical recovery.