Acute pancreatitis: a clinical survey.

WHEN pancreatitis was first describedl, it was considered to be a fulminating inflammatory process which was inevitably fatal (Fitz, 1889). This view underwent little change over the years, and as recently as 1963 Zachary Cope stated that acute pancreatitis was a condition marked by a sudden onset, with excruciating pain and profound shock (Cope, 1963). Though Opie described the frequent association with gallstones in 1901, the disease has been considered to be one of the less common causes of abdominal pain (Opie, 1901). Recent -reports necessitate a considerable change of outlook on the clinical aspect and manifestations of this disease (Fallis, 1953; Foogerson and Shedd, 1955; Bergman, Dunn and Straehley, 1961; Albo, Silen and Goldman, 1963). The present study is an analysis of the age and sex distribution, clinical, laboraltory and X-ray findings in 115 patients with acu'te pancreatitis treated at 'the Massachusetts General Hospital over a four year period. The criteria for inclusion in the series were: (1) A finding of pancrealtitis at operation or autopsy, or (2) Clinical and ibiochemical evidence of pancreatitis.