THE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF FLUID COLLECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PANCREATITIS

Pancreatitis may be acute or chronic, mild or severe. Acute necrotizin g pancreatitis remains the most serious form of acute pancreatitis and accounts for the majority of complications. Although there is an esta blished nomenclature for pancreatitis and pancreatic fluid collections , such as pancreatic pseudocysts, it is not widely understood or recog nized by physicians, including gastroenterologists. Because nonspecial ists will be increasingly called upon to treat and appropriately refer patients with pancreatitis and its complications for more specialized care, it is important to understand the evolving treatment options fo r managing these patients. This article addresses and summarizes pancr eatitis and its complications, particularly pancreatic collections. (C ) 1997 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.