Background/aims: Due to the anatomical location of the pancreas, sufficient drainage of a pancreatic necrosis by laparotomy may be unsatisfactory.
Methods: CT and helical CT have provided extremely useful information on the surgical treatment of necrotic pancreatitis. The retroperitoneal approach (RPA) allows direct and complete removal of necrotic tissues.
Results: RPA was used to treat 8 patients with infected pancreatic necrosis. Excision of necrotic tissues was effective and could minimize the complications often associated with laparotomy such as bleeding and intestinal injuries.
Conclusion: By CT and helical CT, three-dimensional images of pancreatic necrosis are obtained. These investigations have greatly facilitated RPA, which has advantages over laparotomy in the treatment of infected pancreatic necrosis.