Management of pancreatic trauma.

Twenty patients who sustained pancreatic trauma are reviewed. Eighteen of the patients underwent emergency laparotomy and there were 53 major associated injuries. Three patients died, giving an operative mortality of 17%. All deaths could be directly attributed to the severity and extent of the associated injuries. Eleven of the 15 survivors following emergency operation developed serious postoperative complications which, in 6 instances, were directly related to the pancreatic injury. Two patients were initially treated conservatively because the isolated pancreatic injuries were missed. Both developed complications requiring operation.