Traumatic pancreatitis

A review is presented of 173 cases of traumatic pancreatitis from the Los Angeles County Hospital for a twenty-five year period. The total mortality of these cases is 13.6 per cent. From the period 1939 to 1952, a series of forty-two cases, the mortality was 40.4 per cent. During the period 1952 to 1963, in 129 cases, the mortality was reduced to 5.4 per cent. We believe the reason for this marked reduction in mortality is due to better recognition of the condition, an increased awareness of its possibility, together with a more aggressive surgical approach in these cases. Undoubtedly, the increased use of blood and blood substitutes as well as better anesthesia during this period have contributed to these results. Better management of fluid and electrolyte problems and improvement in the total care of the injured patient are significant contributing factors. Since so many of these cases are due to high speed automobile accidents and particularly steering wheel injuries, the routine use of safety belts, we believe, would significantly reduce the frequency of this condition.