From January 1985 to June 1992, 34 patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis proved by operation and pathology were admitted. The patients consisted of 10 males and 24 females, aged 1～72 with an average age of 43.8years. The time from onset to operation was 10～63 hours (average 30.7 hours). All patients underwent pancreatic capsulotomy, mobilization of pancreatic bed, and necrosectomy with the exception of one treated by subtotal pancreatectomy. Twenty-nine cases were cured, the average hospital stay was 77.4 days. Five patients died with a mortality of 14.7 per cent. We take the view that all patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis should be early operated when the diagnosis is established, and necrosectomy proved to be a simple, easy, safe and effective mode of operation.