What is the primary complication of untreated severe acute pancreatitis?

In untreated severe acute pancreatitis, the primary complication is organ failure. This condition can lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which triggers widespread inflammation and can compromise multiple organ systems, including the lungs, kidneys, and cardiovascular system. The severity of pancreatitis can result in complications like respiratory distress, renal impairment, and cardiovascular instability, ultimately leading to organ failure.

Severe acute pancreatitis can also lead to local complications, such as abscesses or pancreatic necrosis, which may result in secondary infections. However, the critical concern is the fact that organ failure represents a life-threatening progression of the disease. If the patient does not receive timely treatment, the risk of respiratory failure, renal failure, and circulatory shock increases significantly, posing significant risks to their overall health and survival.

While conditions like diabetes mellitus can develop in the long term after severe acute pancreatitis due to pancreatic damage, and infections can occur as a secondary complication, they are not the immediate primary complications stemming from the untreated acute phase of the condition. Biliary obstruction is also related to pancreatitis, but it does not rank as the most significant complication in a patient suffering from severe acute pancreatitis. Thus, organ failure stands out as the central and most immediate complication in this