Near total pancreatectomy in the treatment of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.

A case of near total pancreatectomy for acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis is presented. The procedure is highly recommended for severely ill patients, when biliary and gastric diversion have failed to arrest the inflammatory process, and retroperitoneal drainage has proved inadequate in removing the vasoactive polypeptides. These play a decisive role in the overall picture of shock.