Still frightening to both patients and clinicians, acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the pancreatic gland that may lead to severe systemic response. Fortunately, the knowledge about this disease has increased considerably in the last two decades. On molecular and pathophysiologic bases, doctors do understand more clearly the primary events in the initiation of acute pancreatitis and its repair, and there are also new diagnostic tools now available. Clinically, it is of the utmost importance to establish a generally accepted classificaiton for the different entities of this disease--especially since new treatment concepts have been introduced in the last years. These include the approach to biliary acute pancreatitis by endoscopic procedures; promising compounds to interfere with the early stage of the disease; and anti-infectives for the later stages, where infected pancreatic necrosis plays a predominant role. In light of this new information, it is evident that the approach to acute pancreatitis should be managed interdisciplinarily to get the best treatment results.

Leading authorities from around the world have contributed to this volume, and special attention has been paid to new insights in pathophysiology and repair mechanisms, diagnosis and new treatment options.

This book provides a state-of-the-art update of acute pancreatitis and will be interest to basic scientists, physicians, clinicians, ICU specialists and surgeons.