Abstract
There is a recognised but poorly understood association between hypothermia and acute pancreatitis. A histological study of the pancreas was made in eight patients with accidental hypothermia who had evidence of pancreatitis at necropsy. From an analysis of the patterns of parenchymal necrosis in the pancreas it was thought that there were at least three possible mechanisms for the relation between hypothermia and pancreatitis. Firstly, that ischaemic pancreatitis may result from the "microcirculatory shock" of hypothermia. Secondly, that both hypothermia and pancreatitis may be secondary to alcohol abuse: and finally, that severe pancreatitis may be the primary disease and that hypothermia results from the patients' social circumstances.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- DUGUID H., SIMPSON R. G., STOWERS J. M. Accidental hypothermia. Lancet. 1961 Dec 2;2(7214):1213–1219. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(61)92588-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Foulis A. K. Histological evidence of initiating factors in acute necrotising pancreatitis in man. J Clin Pathol. 1980 Dec;33(12):1125–1131. doi: 10.1136/jcp.33.12.1125. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Goodall H. B., Todd A. S., Maclean D., Henderson R., King J. F. Proceedings: Cryofibrinogenaemia and activation of the coagulation/lysis systems in accidental hypothermia of the elderly. J Clin Pathol. 1975 Sep;28(9):758–758. doi: 10.1136/jcp.28.9.758-a. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kwaan H. C., Anderson M. C., Gramatica L. A study of pancreatic enzymes as a factor in the pathogenesis of disseminated intravascular coagulation during acute pancreatitis. Surgery. 1971 May;69(5):663–672. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Maclean D., Murison J., Griffiths P. D. Acute pancreatitis and diabetic ketoacidosis in accidental hypothermia and hypothermic myxoedema. Br Med J. 1973 Dec 29;4(5895):757–761. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5895.757. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Maclean D., Murison J., Griffiths P. D. Acute pancreatitis and diabetic ketoacidosis in accidental hypothermia and hypothermic myxoedema. Br Med J. 1973 Dec 29;4(5895):757–761. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5895.757. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mahood J. M., Evans A. Accidental hypothermia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and pancreatitis. N Z Med J. 1978 Apr 26;87(610):283–284. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nakashima Y., Howard J. M. Drug-induced acute pancreatitis. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1977 Jul;145(1):105–109. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]