[Treatment of acute necrotizing pancreatitis with peritoneal lavage. 12 cases].

In an intensive care unit 12 consecutive patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis were treated with peritoneal lavage. All clearly improved: pain was promptly relieved and the symptoms of shock and respiratory failure regressed. None of the patients died during the first 10 days. The five deaths recorded were due to late septic shock consecutive to suppuration of the pancreatic gland. It is concluded that peritoneal lavage helps to tide patients over the critical first days of severe acute pancreatitis.