A Novel Surgical Strategy to Reduce Major Complications in Patients With Necrotizing Pancreatitis

Immediate drainagewas advocated within 24 hours once necrosis was diagnosed. During the treatment course, a hybrid approach was available by flexibly switching interventions. Open surgery was only applied when patients required emergency surgery. The minimally invasive surgery was selected based on the size, location, and maturity of the necrotic area and stepwise response to intervention. Repeated peritoneal purification was performed until the infected or devitalized tissue was controlled. Patients were subsequently discharged with a drainage catheter and readmitted at 7- to 10-day intervals to receive repeated planned surgery without postoperative irrigation. Patients received a whole-course assessment for individual patients at 7-day predetermined intervals.

Interventions were postponed until 4 weeks after the onset of pancreatitis in line with international guidelines unless the patient showed evidence of progressive clinical deterioration despite the use of maximal supportive care. Patients underwent CT-guided percutaneous catheter drainage as the first step. Treatment response was evaluated after 3 days. If drainage was clinically unsuccessful, a VARD procedure was performed. Similarly, open surgery, which was described by Beger et al., was performed if the VARD procedure failed. Postoperative continuous lavage is performed as a routine procedure.