Acute Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis

Abstract

I. Introduction Inflammatory disease of the pancreas is characterized by edema, hemorrhage, necrosis, and suppuration. The gross picture of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis is accompanied by intraperitoneal accumulation of blood, fat necrosis, and localized adhesions. Inflammatory disease of the pancreas runs the gamut from mild interstitial inflammation to diffuse fibrosis, depending on the duration and severity of the initial insult. The multiple forms of therapy advocated in this disease bespeak the lack of agreement on its basic pathogenesis. There is a good indication for reexamination of this disease in the laboratory animal. It is the purpose of this study ( a ) to describe a method of consistently producing acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis in the dog and ( b ) to evaluate the results of bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy as a definitive method of treatment. The present day concept of treatment in the acute phase of primary hemorrhagic pancreatitis involves primarily the application of conservative medical management.