Pleural effusions: a new negative prognostic parameter for acute pancreatitis.

Abstract

To evaluate the incidence, localization, and size of pleural effusions in 133 patients with acute pancreatitis. A contrast-enhanced computed tomographic scan was prospectively obtained within 72 h after admission. Patients with pleural effusions (66 = 50%) had significantly more severe morphological changes of the pancreas and necroses (independent of the size and localization of the effusions and etiology of the acute pancreatitis), more often had a pancreatic pseudocyst, and had a higher mortality rate than patients without this complication. Pleural effusions are indicative of severe acute pancreatitis and are a negative prognostic parameter for the course of the disease.