Severe pancreatitis: the surgeon's role.

Severe pancreatitis usually carries considerable more mortality than the mild form of the disease. The role of the surgeon in treating patients with severe pancreatitis has undergone a considerable evolution over the years. Current guidelines established by the International Association of Pancreatology address differences in surgical management, but certain areas remain controversial. The use of traditional open surgical techniques has evolved because of the advent of minimally invasive endoscopic and percutaneous techniques.