"Marsupialization" in the treatment of pancreatic abscess.

Seventeen patients who underwent operations for pancreatic abscess are the subject of this article. In a nonselective manner, 11 patients were treated by debridement and sump drainage, whereas six patients were treated with similar debridement with open packing (marsupialization) of the abscess. There was a 55% mortality rate in those patients who underwent sump drainage and 0% mortality rate in those who underwent marsupialization. No differences could be found between the groups to account for this variation in survival, except the method of treatment. We suggest that marsupialization to considered for patients with pancreatic abscess, particularly when they have extensive necrosis.