ACUTE NECROTIZING PANCREATITIS, LACTIC-ACIDOSIS AND PROLONGED HYPOGLYCEMIA IN A HEMODIALYZED PATIENT - A LOGICAL BUT UNFORTUNATELY FATAL COMBINATION

A hemodialysed patient with abdominal pain, severe lactic acidosis and prolonged hypoglycemia is described. The diagnosis of acute necrotizi ng pancreatitis was delayed, and the patient died from both systemic a nd peripancreatic complications of the acute pancreatitis. The article deals with the problem of diagnosing acute pancreatitis in an end-sta ge renal failure (ESRF) patient; on the possible surgical options open to the physician in the management of acute pancreatitis and on a pat hophysiological explanation behind both the lactic acidosis and hypogl ycemia in this patient.