Changing concepts in the surgical management of acute pancreatitis.

Most episodes of acute pancreatitis are mild and self-limiting, but severe disease complicated by multiple system organ failure develops in up to 20% of cases. Early detection of those patients who subsequently develop necrotizing pancreatitis allows the start of supportive treatment in the intensive care unit before organ failure occurs. Conservative treatment in the intensive care unit, including the administration of intravenous antibiotics, is the gold standard. Surgery is indicated in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis but not in patients with sterile necrosis in the absence of deteriorating multi-organ failure despite maximal intensive care unit treatment, or other specific surgical complications. At our institution, out of 44 patients with necrotizing pancreatitis 29 (66%) had sterile necrosis and were managed conservatively while 15 (34%) had infected pancreatic necrosis and were treated by necrosectomy and continuous closed retroperitoneal lavage. There were two deaths resulting in an overall mortality of 5% in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.     

Acute pancreatitis: when and how to operate.

Patients with proved necrotizing pancreatitis should be treated in an intensive care unit. Surgical management of necrotizing pancreatitis is indicated if an acute abdomen or persistent or increasing signs of organ complications develop, such as pulmonary or renal insufficiency, cardiocirculatory dysfunction or metabolic disorders, and these do not respond to maximum intensive care treatment over at least 72 h. Besides these so-called non-responders to ICU treatment, operative management is clearly indicated in patients who develop signs of sepsis on the basis of a bacteriologically positive fine-needle aspiration of pancreatic necroses. In patients with minor necroses without any bacterial contamination and without extensive retroperitoneal fatty tissue necroses intensive care therapy can be successful without the necessity of a surgical intervention. The gold standard of surgical management of necrotizing pancreatitis is careful removal of necrotic tissue, drainage of bacterially infected area, elimination of the pancreatogenic ascites in order to prevent systemic spread of vasoactive and toxic substances and interruption of the inflammatory process. For the treatment of pancreatic necrosis we strongly support surgical debridement (necrosectomy), supplemented by postoperative closed continuous lavage of the lesser sac and the adjacent necrotic cavities. In 152 patients suffering from severe necrotizing pancreatitis the hospital mortality was 12.5% (19/152) by this surgical approach.     

Acute pancreatitis: is there a need for surgery?

The treatment of acute pancreatitis is primarily non-surgical. An interdisciplinary approach as well as timely and aggressive intensive care has led to a significant improvement of the prognosis in severe necrotising pancreatitis. Early surgical procedures were associated with high morbidity and mortality and therefore were abandoned and replaced with forceful conservative treatment. However, there are still specific indications for surgery during the course of acute pancreatitis. These include cholecystectomy for biliary pancreatitis, surgical debridement of infected necrosis in septic patients and emergency operations for gastrointestinal perforations or haemorrhage. The following article focuses on surgical indications, optimal timing of surgery and competing surgical and non-surgical concepts like laparoscopic or endoscopic management. All mentioned procedures demand the cooperation of an experienced team of gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists and intensive care specialists, who are able to manage the potentially life-threatening complications of this disease. All patients with severe necrotising pancreatitis should be transferred to a specialised centre for interdisciplinary therapy.     

Incidence and mortality of acute pancreatitis between 1985 and 1995

BACKGROUND: The incidence of acute pancreatitis seems to have increased in Western countries. It has been suggested that this increase can be explained by improved diagnostic procedures. We performed a nationwide study to assess the annual sex- and age-specific incidence and mortality rates of acute pancreatitis in the Netherlands between 1985 and 1995, a period in which diagnostic procedures did not change considerably. METHODS: We conducted a population-based retrospective follow-up study in which we used automated hospital discharge data accumulated by Prismant Health Care Information. All patients admitted with acute pancreatitis (ICD-9CM, 577.0) in the Netherlands were identified. We accounted for referrals to other hospitals to avoid double counting and for miscoding of chronic pancreatitis as acute pancreatitis. The annual population size was retrieved from the Netherlands Central Statistics Office. RESULTS: The observed incidence of acute pancreatitis increased from 12.4/100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI), 11.8-12.9) in 1985 to 15.9/100,000 person-years (95% CI, 15.3-16.5) in 1995. The annual mortality rate of acute pancreatitis remained fairly stable at 1.5/100,000 person-years. The incidence and mortality rate of acute pancreatitis increased considerably with age. The case-fatality proportion of first admissions for acute pancreatitis decreased from 14.3% to 10.7%. The case-fatality for relapses remained stable at 3.2%. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study the observed incidence of acute pancreatitis increased by 28% between 1985 and 1995. Due to a decrease in the case-fatality proportion, the mortality remained stable during this period.     

Incidence and Mortality of Acute Pancreatitis between 1985 and 1995

Background: The incidence of acute pancreatitis seems to have increased in Western countries. It has been suggested that this increase can be explained by improved diagnostic procedures. We performed a nationwide study to assess the annual sex- and age-specific incidence and mortality rates of acute pancreatitis in the Netherlands between 1985 and 1995, a period in which diagnostic procedures did not change considerably. Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective follow-up study in which we used automated hospital discharge data accumulated by Prismant Health Care Information. All patients admitted with acute pancreatitis (ICD-9CM, 577.0) in the Netherlands were identified. We accounted for referrals to other hospitals to avoid double counting and for miscoding of chronic pancreatitis as acute pancreatitis. The annual population size was retrieved from the Netherlands Central Statistics Office. Results: The observed incidence of acute pancreatitis increased from 12.4/100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI), 11.8-12.9) in 1985 to 15.9/100,000 person-years (95% CI, 15.3-16.5) in 1995. The annual mortality rate of acute pancreatitis remained fairly stable at 1.5/100,000 person-years. The incidence and mortality rate of acute pancreatitis increased considerably with age. The case-fatality proportion of first admissions for acute pancreatitis decreased from 14.3% to 10.7%. The case-fatality for relapses remained stable at 3.2%. Conclusions: In this retrospective study the observed incidence of acute pancreatitis increased by 28% between 1985 and 1995. Due to a decrease in the case-fatality proportion, the mortality remained stable during this period.     

Akute Pankreatitis

Acute pancreatitis usually occurs as a result of alcohol abuse or bile duct obstruction. In most patients the clinical course is mild and without complication. But 15% develop necrotizing pancreatitis with subsequent, potentially life-threatening complications. Prompt diagnosis and identification of patients with a severe course is crucial. In severe pancreatitis, intensive care unit monitoring is mandatory and may minimize systemic sequelae. Early identification of risk factors for severe prognosis is a challenge. Scoring systems used in acute severe pancreatitis have some limitations. CRP and hematocrit are two tests which are simple to perform, but are very useful in distinguishing mild from severe acute pancreatitis. CT scans are very helpful in detecting necrosis and other local complications and to provide prognostic information. Treatment of acute pancreatitis is primarily non-surgical. Therapy of acute pancreatitis is supportive including pain control, intravenous fluids, and nutrition. The patients must be carefully monitored for organ dysfunction. Hypotension, hypoxemia, and renal failure must be treated adequately. Accumulating evidence suggests that enteral feeding is safe and reduces complications. Infection of necrosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in acute necrotizing pancreatitis. The role of prophylactic systemic antibiotics in acute severe pancreatitis is still unsettled. Based on clinical practice it seems reasonable to give antibiotics to patients with proven necrosis. In case of biliary obstruction, it is beneficial to perform early ERCP. However, mortality does not seem to be influenced by urgent ERCP. Local complications should be first treated using minimally invasive approaches using CT, ultrasound, endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound. If this fails, surgical debridement is the treatment of choice. Delayed surgical intervention is associated with better results.     

Evaluation of factors that have reduced mortality from acute pancreatitis over the past 20 years

BACKGROUND: The mortality associated with acute pancreatitis varies markedly in different studies, with most frequently reported mortality rates of 10% to 15% for all cases and 15% to 90% for attacks regarded as "severe." More recently, various centers have recorded lower mortality rates of 4% to 7% for all attacks of acute pancreatitis and 20% to 50% for those regarded as severe. GOALS: To investigate whether there has been a reduction in mortality associated with acute pancreatitis over the past 20 years and the reasons for this reduction. STUDY: Intended as a review, this study included the authors' 20-year prospective assessment of mortality as it relates to the severity of the disease, complications, and current therapy. For the mortality results, the study was divided into four 4-year periods from 1977 to 1998 and the past 3 years (i.e., 1998-2001). For comparison, the mortality figures from some other large studies are presented. RESULTS: This study showed that the initial reduction in mortality related to acute pancreatitis coincided with the recognition and application of the signs of severity, either Ranson's prognostic signs or Bank's clinical criteria. These signs dictated admission to intensive care unit (ICU) therapy, the intensity of ICU monitoring, and the importance of organ-specific emergent therapy. Further mortality reduction in the 1990s could be attributed to either a more select study sample or earlier and more selective endoscopic or surgical debridement of infected tissue, endoscopic cyst drainage, and angiographic control of gastrointestinal bleeding. Improved nutritional support by jejunal feeding, earlier use of antibiotic therapy, gut sterilization, early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for common bile duct stones and necrosectomy for noninfected necrosis have reduced the overall mortality associated with acute pancreatitis to a mean of 5% (range, 3.8-7%) for all cases and 20% (range, 15-25%) for severe cases. However, it is clear that the greater the number of signs denoting severity of organ failure, the higher the mortality. CONCLUSIONS: There has been considerable reduction in the mortality associated with acute pancreatitis over the past 20 years. The reasons are multifactorial, but recognition of severity signs, early implementation of organ-specific therapy, and newer endoscopic, surgical, and angiographic therapy for infection cyst and bleeding appear to have been the major factors in reducing mortality.     

Surgical management of necrotizing pancreatitis: An overview

Necrotizing pancreatitis is an uncommon yet serious complication of acute pancreatitis with mortality rates reported up to 15%that reach 30%in case of infection.Traditionally open surgical debridement was the only tool in our disposal to manage this serious clinical entity.This approach is however associated with poor outcomes.Management has now shifted away from open surgical debridement to a more conservative management and minimally invasive approaches.Contemporary approach to patients with necrotizing pancreatitis and/or infectious pancreatitis is summarized in the 3Ds:Delay,Drain and Debride.Patients can be managed in the intensive care unit and any intervention should be delayed.Percutaneous drainage can be utilized first and early in the course of the disease,followed by endoscopic drainage or video assisted retroperitoneoscopic drainage if necrosectomy is deemed necessary.Open surgery is now less frequently performed and should be reserved for cases refractory to any other approach.The management of necrotizing pancreatitis therefore requires a multidisciplinary dynamic model of approach rather than being a surgical disease.     

Management of severe acute pancreatitis: The Peking Union Medical College Hospital experience from 1984 to 2001

OBJECTIVE: To discuss recent advances in diagnostic techniques for severe acute pancreatitis. To discuss recent changes in the treatment of severe acute pan­creatitis, and to evaluate their effects. METHODS: Sixty‐two patients who were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital with severe acute pancreatitis between April 1984 and June 2001 were reviewed. RESULTS: From 1984 to 1993, the main treatment was early surgical débridement, and the mortality rate was 38.5% (15/39). Since 1994 computed tomo‐graphy has been used as a diagnostic tool, and treatment has shifted to aggressive intensive medical care, with specific criteria for operative and non‐operative interventions. The mortality rate during this period was 17.4% (4/23). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients with severe acute pancreatitis has improved greatly because of advances in diagnosis and treatment. Computed tomography is an important and effective non‐invasive diagnostic technique.     

Akute Pankreatitis

Severe pancreatitis is characterized by organ failure or sepsis and is present in approximately 20% of patients. The severity of the disease is difficult to judge at onset. Mild disease is present in patients with normal urea, hematocrit and blood glucose. Patients should be treated in an intensive care unit. Enteral nutrition is now obligatory. The role of prophylactic antibiotics in necrotizing pancreatitis is unclear. High dose analgesics may be used, including opioids. The treatment of infected necrosis should be performed not earlier than 3 weeks when the necrosis has become demarcated. The primary interventional procedure is superior to a surgical approach. Nevertheless, this disease has a mortality of approximately 15%.     

A prospective audit against national standards of the presentation and management of acute pancreatitis in the South of England

BACKGROUND: The incidence of acute pancreatitis shows regional variations in the UK. AIMS: To document the incidence and presentation of acute pancreatitis in hospitals in Wessex, and to audit the process and outcome of management of patients against the UK guidelines. METHODS: A prospective survey was carried out of all patients with acute pancreatitis in a one year period, in eight geographically adjacent acute hospitals in the Wessex region. RESULTS: 186 patients with acute pancreatitis were identified, an incidence of 152 per million in the adult population. Aetiology was: gallstones 33%, alcohol 20%, idiopathic 32%, other 15%. There were 60 severe cases with 17 deaths. Age and APACHE-II score had significant relations to outcome, but delay to admission, serum amylase level, aetiology, and sex did not. The mortality rate (9.1%) was within the audit standard of 10%. Some management goals were not met: in mild cases, only one third of patients with gallstone pancreatitis had definitive treatment within four weeks. In severe cases, there was poor use of objective severity stratification (19%), low admission rates to a high dependency unit or intensive care unit (67%), and only 33% of patients had computed tomography. Only seven of 17 patients with severe gallstone pancreatitis had an urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of clinically diagnosed acute pancreatitis in England continues to rise. Current management of acute pancreatitis is suboptimal when compared with evidence based UK guidelines but the mortality rate was within the guideline standard.     

Outcome of intensive medical treatments in patients with infected severe necrotizing pancreatitis]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Infection of pancreatic necrosis is one of the leading cause of death in patients with severe necrotizing pancreatits. Because of high mortality rate up to 50%, immediate surgical debridement including pancreatectomy is recommended. However, early surgical treatment still showed high mortality rate and better treatment strategy is required. This study was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of early intensive non-surgical treatments in patients with infected necrotizing pancreatitis. METHODS: This study was based on retrospective analysis of 71 patients with acute severe necrotizing pancreatitis (APACHE II score>or=8, or Ranson's score>or=3, and pancreatic necrosis on CT scan), who were admitted to medical center during past 16 years. Infection of pancreatic necrosis was confirmed by fine needle aspiration, and early intensive medical treatments comprised of prophylactic antibiotics coverage, fluid resuscitation, organ preserving supportive measures, and percutaneous catheter drainage were carried out. RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients, infections were suspected in 46 patients, but fine needle aspirations were done only in 32 patients. In 21 patients, infections of necrotic tissue were confirmed by bacteriology, while other 11 patients showed no evidence of bacterial growth. Of 21 patients with infected necrosis, initial surgical interventions were performed in 2 patients, while initial medical treatments were performed in 19 patients. The success rate of medical treatment group in infected necrotizing pancreatitis was 79% (15/19). The mortality rate of medical treatment group and surgical treatment group was 5% (1/19) and 50% (1/2). CONCLUSIONS: Early intensive medical treatment seems to be a good therapeutic strategy, even if the infection has developed in pancreatic necrosis. Further prospective randomized studies are required to confirm this finding.     

Changes in hospital mortality from acute myocardial infarction during the last 15 years. The impact of reperfusion treatments]

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: There are not any conclusive data about the changes in in-hospital mortality in a non-selected series of patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction in different periods of time. We studied the in-hospital mortality of three extensive series of patients admitted to our Coronary Care Unit during different periods of time, the influence of reperfusion methods and their early application, as well as the changes in baseline characteristics of the three populations studied. METHODS: The in-hospital mortality of 1,858 consecutively-admitted patients during three different periods of time (1983-1986, 1992-1994, and 1995-1998) were studied. The demographic data, the previous history and risk factors, the evolution during the acute phase and the treatment prescribed with special attention to the reperfusion methods applied and the delay on its administration were compared. RESULTS: The differences in the baseline characteristics of the populations studied are described. In the two groups of the nineteen-nineties, an increase in the age and in the percentage of women, diabetics and hypertensives was compared. As for the characteristics of acute myocardial infarction, an increase of patients in Killip class 3 and 4 stands out besides other changes. Fibrinolitic treatment decreased during the third period due to the increment in primary angioplasty. There were no significant differences in hospital mortality among the three series studied. The treatment with thrombolysis and primary angioplasty during the first two hours showed a significant independent reduction of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The early application of thrombolysis and primary angioplasty showed an independent reduction of the hospital mortality in our study. Nevertheless the non-adjusted mortality rate did not show any change during the last 15 years.     

Management of acute pancreatitis: results of a 15-year experience in Taiwan

In the past two decades, there have been great changes regarding the policy for treating acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to examine the chronological changes in the management of acute pancreatitis in a tertiary referral center. A retrospective review was carried out of the management approaches for acute pancreatitis in the 15 years since 1984. The patients were divided into groups according to the admission date, representing two periods: period 1, from 1984 through 1992; and period 2, from 1993 through 1999. Decision-making for treating acute pancreatitis was based mainly on Beger's criteria. The background features and treatment outcome were compared between the two periods. The severity of pancreatitis was based on the Atlanta classification system. Octreotide was available from January 1993. No differences could be found between the two periods regarding the patients' background characteristics or severity of pancreatitis. Patients in period 2 had a longer interval between the onset of pancreatitis and surgery, and a lower incidence of pancreatectomy. Although the surgical morbidity, mortality, and reoperation rates were not significantly different between the two periods, more patients with severe acute pancreatitis in period 2 received nonsurgical treatment, and a lower mortality rate was also noted. With improvements in critical care, increasing experience, and better surgical techniques, even patients with severe acute pancreatitis can be treated by nonsurgical means. However, aggressive surgical intervention is necessary for patients who have signs of infected necrosis and whose disease is not controllable by conservative methods.     

Impact of age on in-hospital mortality of surgical patients in a German university hospital

Although the frequency of major surgical procedures in elderly patients is increasing, the impact of age as an independent factor on in-hospital mortality and capacity planning is uncertain. Therefore, we analyzed how age, gender, number of diagnoses, and number of operations per patient are reflecting the demographic changes going on in the last decade. Furthermore, we analyzed the influence of age, main diagnoses, and comorbidities on in-hospital mortality, and cost factors, like duration of in-hospital stay, number of operations, and stay at the intensive care unit using multiple regression analysis. One thousand four hundred and sixty-nine patients hospitalized in 1990, and 5,718 patients hospitalized during 1998-2000 at the surgical department of a German university hospital were recruited. The average age of the patients increased significantly from the year 1990 to 1999 (by 4 years). The overall in-hospital mortality of the elderly patients (above 70 years of age) declined from 18.6% in 1990 to 7.6% in 2000. The number of diagnoses increased from 1.27 to 3.5 per patient. Age is a significant, independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality (odd's ratio (OR), 2.2), prolonged stay at intensive care unit (OR, 1.8), reoperation (OR, 1.3), and prolonged hospitalization (OR, 1.8). Nevertheless, oncologic diseases and pre-existing comorbidities are also significant independent factors for the clinical course and costs resulting from treating elderly patients. We conclude that decisions for surgical treatment should not be solely based on patient's age. The demographic changes in Europe result in an over-proportional increase in expenditures, which should be included when planning the capacities of a surgical department.     

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in patients with respiratory failure due to severe acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) who require mechanical ventilation have high morbidity and mortality rates. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) delivered through a mask has become increasingly popular for the treatment of acute respiratory failure (ARF) and may limit some mechanical ventilation complications. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this retrospective, observational study was to evaluate our clinical experience with the use of NPPV in AP patients with ARF. METHODS: From 1997 to 2003, we documented clinical data, gas exchange and outcome of the 62 AP patients admitted to our intensive care unit. Patients who benefited from NPPV (success) were compared with those who failed (intubated). RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were intubated at admission and 5 did not develop ARF. Of the 28 patients treated with NPPV, 15 were not intubated (54%). Both groups had a similar PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio (142 +/- 21 vs. 133 +/- 20; p = 0.127) and severity of illness (Ranson and Balthazar scores). Presence of atelectasis, bilateral alveolar infiltrates and abdominal distension were associated with failure of NPPV. Oxygenation improved and respiratory rate decreased significantly only in the success group. Additionally, the length of stay at the intensive care unit was significantly lower in the success group. CONCLUSION: NPPV is feasible and safe to treat ARF in selected patients with AP who require ventilatory support.     

Acute pancreatitis: the role of early surgery.

Conservative treatment for an attack of acute pancreatitis still takes priority. The treatment of choice in biliary pancreatitis is endoscopic papillotomy with extraction of any bile duct stones. After this procedure the patient usually recovers quickly and cholecystectomy should be done as an interval operation. An early operation has to be done when conservative treatment fails and organ failure occurs. The 'gold standard' of surgical therapy today is the opening of the lesser sac with continuous postoperative lavage and drainage, digital elimination of necrotic tissue and drainage of the paracolic areas. Other described surgical procedures do not produce significantly better results. Necrotizing pancreatitis still has a high mortality in contrast to mild oedematous pancreatitis, which is rarely a problem.     

Severe acute pancreatitis: pathogenesis,diagnosis and surgical management

BACKGROUND: Severe acute pancreatitis is a subtype of acute pancreatitis, associated with multiple organ failure and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. In this qualitative review we looked at the principles of pathogenesis, classification and surgical management of severe acute pancreatitis. We also looked at the current shift in paradigm in the management of severe acute pancreatitis since the guideline developed by the British Society of Gastroenterology.DATA SOURCES: Studies published between 1st January 1991 and 31st December 2015 were identified with Pub Med, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Google Scholar online search engines using the following Medical Subject Headings: "acute pancreatitis, necrosis, mortality, pathogenesis, incidence" and the terms "open necrosectomy and minimally invasive necrosectomy".The National Institute of Clinical Excellence(NICE) Guidelines were also included in our study. Inclusion criteria for our clinical review included established guidelines, randomized controlled trials and non-randomized controlled trials with a follow-up duration of more than 6 weeks.RESULTS: The incidence of severe acute pancreatitis within the UK is significantly rising and pathogenetic theories are still controversial. In developed countries, the most common cause is biliary calculi. The British Society of Gastroenterology,acknowledges the Revised Atlanta criteria for prediction of severity. A newer Determinant-based system has been developed.The principle of surgical management of acute necrotizing pancreatitis requires intensive care management, identifying infection and if indicated, debridement of any infected necrotic area. The current procedures opted for include standard surgical open necrosectomy, endoscopic necrosectomy and minimally invasive necrosectomy. The current paradigm is shifting towards a step-up approach.CONCLUSIONS: Severe acute pancreatitis is still a subject of grey areas in its surgical management even though new studies have been recorded since the origin of the latest UK guidelines for management of severe acute pancreatitis.     

Severe acute pancreatitis--outcome following a primarily non-surgical regime.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. The aim was to evaluate treatment, risk factors and outcome in SAP in a centre with a restrictive attitude to surgery. METHODS: All cases of acute pancreatitis admitted 1994-2003 were analysed retrospectively. SAP was defined as organ failure and/or hospital stay >7 days together with one or more of: C-reactive protein >150 mg/l within 72 h after admission, necrosis on computed tomography and need for treatment in the intensive care unit. RESULTS: 185 (22%) of patients with acute pancreatitis fulfilled the criteria for SAP. 175 patients were included, mean age 61 +/- 17 years. Hospital stay was in median 13 days. Forty-six patients had some surgical intervention, in 14 cases directed at the pancreas (8%). Hospital mortality was 9% (n = 16), in 88% (n = 14) associated with multiple organ dysfunction and 50% (n = 8) of the deaths occurred within the first week after admission. Of the parameters registered on admission, age and hypotension (systolic blood pressure <100 mm Hg) were identified as risk factors for death. CONCLUSION: The present treatment regime for SAP as defined above resulted in a 9% mortality rate, with age and hypotension at admission as predictive factors for death.     

Invasive and non-invasive diagnostic methods for evaluation of hypovolemia in acute pancreatitis

Severe acute pancreatitis leads to a dramatic fluid loss in the intraperitoneal space which may result in circulatory decompensation. Sequestration of fluid can amount up to 40 percent of the circulating blood volume. The amount of fluid and electrolyte replacement is often misjudged leading to a higher rate of complications and a higher mortality rate of the disease. Furthermore, subsequent and adequate fluid resuscitation seems to influence the prognostic course of the disease by improving the perfusion and oxygenation of the pancreas. Otherwise volume overload may cause cardiopulmonary decompensation in the case of synchronous cardiopulmonary comorbidities. Therefore, an important part of treatment relies on careful haemodynamic monitoring, if necessary managed in an intensive care unit. Usually most patients with acute pancreatitis will be treated on a non-intensive medical ward which allows a differentiated and continuous haemodynamic monitoring only to a limited extent. Apart from monitoring circulatory parameters and measuring central venous pressure, there are other clinical methods, laboratory tests and radiological diagnostic procedures to determine the amount of intravascular fluid deficit and the individual volume demand of patients with acute pancreatitis. Prospective clinical trials for evaluation of pancreatitis-specific volume management do not exist so far. The aim of this review is to provide background information on invasive and non-invasive diagnostic methods for detection of circulatory hypovolemia in acute pancreatitis.