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©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2008; 14(35): 5467-5470
Published online Sep 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.5467
Published online Sep 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.5467
Recovery from respiratory failure after decompression laparotomy for severe acute pancreatitis
Sylvia Siebig, Tanja Bruennler, Christine Dierkes, Julia Langgartner, Juergen Schoelmerich, Christian E Wrede, Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, Regensburg D-93042, Germany
Igors Iesalnieks, Department of Surgery, University of Regensburg, Regensburg D-93042, Germany
Author contributions: Siebig S and Wrede CE contributed equally to this work; Siebig S, Wrede CE, Bruennler T, Dierkes C, Langgartner J, Iesalnieks I performed the treatment for the three patients and read the manuscript; Siebig S and Wrede CE wrote the paper and analyzed the data.
Correspondence to: Sylvia Siebig, MD, Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, Regensburg D-93042, Germany. sylvia.siebig@klinik.uni-r.de
Telephone: +49-941-9447079 Fax: +49-941-9447021
Received: March 18, 2008
Revised: June 30, 2008
Accepted: July 7, 2008
Published online: September 21, 2008
Revised: June 30, 2008
Accepted: July 7, 2008
Published online: September 21, 2008
Abstract
We present three cases of patients (at the age of 56 years, 49 years and 74 years respectively) with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), complicated by intra-abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and respiratory insufficiency with limitations of mechanical ventilation. The respiratory situation of the patients was significantly improved after decompression laparotomy (DL) and lung protective ventilation was re-achieved. ACS was discussed followed by a short review of the literature. Our cases show that DL may help patients with SAP to recover from severe respiratory failure.
Keywords: Severe acute pancreatitis, Intra-abdominal compartment syndrome, Decompression laparotomy, Intensive care unit, Respiratory failure