Pulmonary function and fibrinogen metabolism in acute pancreatitis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Respiratory complications were studied in 50 patients with acute pancreatitis, and the relationship of these complications to parameters of fibrinogen metabolism was investigated. The mean arterial Po2 of the patients was 9·85±3·8 kPa (s.d.). Forty‐three per cent of patients on admission were hypoxaemic. The mean Po2 was lower in patients who subsequently developed complications of acute pancreatitis (mean Po2 7·85±1·42 kPa (s.d.), P2 (r = −0·6, P<0·001). Fibrinogen degradation products were elevated in 45 per cent of patients. The results confirm that marked lung damage occurs in acute pancreatitis and suggest that the effects are prolonged. The possibility that this damage may be related to pulmonary fibrin deposition is discussed.

This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit: