The authors suggest a new method for treating acute pancreatitis, which is based on the principles of an "opened abdomen" but combines practically all its advantages. The operation is called "dynamic omentopancreatostomy". This method was used in 1986-87 for the treatment of 13 patients, 7 of them had destructive pancreatitis with total and subtotal necrosis of the pancreas. Severe specific complications characteristic of acute pancreatitis occurred in all of the patients. Three patients died in the post-operative period. Most of the developing complications were easily arrested by means of this new operative method. It is concluded that seriously ill patients with omentopancreonecrosis may be treated successfully by the operation of "dynamic omentopancreatostomy".