LATE OUTCOME AFTER ACUTE-PANCREATITIS - FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT AND GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT COMPLICATIONS

Functional and morphologic changes that take place in the pancreatic g land after an episode of acute pancreatitis have been the subject of d iscussion among experts in recent years. At the present time there are enough studies to support the fact that for a certain time if not per manently after acute pancreatitis a variable number of patients contin ue to show morphologic pancreatic changes in the pancreas and exocrine functional impairment. These changes are clearly seen to be related t o the severity and alcoholic etiology of the pancreatitis. There are a lso indications of possible progression from acute alcoholic pancreati tis to chronic pancreatitis, related to severity and recurrence. It is more probable that it is the first instance of pancreatitis in a panc reas that has previously suffered asymptomatic alcohol-induced impairm ent. The vascular and gastrointestinal tract complications that make a late appearance after acute pancreatitis, although infrequent, on occ asion confronts the patient with a high risk of mortality, especially in cases of perforation and hemorrhage.