INTRODUCTION
A 60-YEAR-OLD MAN was diagnosed as having recurrent idiopathic pancreatitis for 3 years. Other medical history included type 1 diabetes mellitus, nephrolithiasis that required lithotripsy, and cholecystitis that required cholecystectomy. He had abdominal symptoms that led to diagnoses of pancreatic abscesses and peritonitis. Medical management and surgical drainage led to the culture of multiple organisms from the inflammatory process, then systemic sepsis and coagulopathy developed and resulted in death. The family initially declined to have an autopsy performed, and the cause of death statement on the death certificate was prepared by the attending physician as follows:
Part 1
A. Intra-abdominal abscess
Due to or as a consequence of:
B. Peripancreatic abscess
Due to or as a consequence of:
C. Chronic pancreatitis
Part 2. OTHER SIGNIFICANT CONDITIONS:
The following day the responsible family member contacted the clinician and requested that an autopsy be performed. The family member was referred to the . . . [Full Text of this Article]
AUTOPSY FINDINGS
COMMENT
