The case William McKinley. . . what if?

Factual Questions
1

US President William McKinley died from infections from a bullet wound, in much the same way as President Garfield two decades earlier (but wherease McKinley lasted only a week or so, Garfield lasted about a month before infections overtook him).

Now, in Garfield’s case, he might well had survived if the doctors had done. . . nothing! An autopsy showed that the bullet had done basically no life-threatening internal damage, and had come to rest in some muscles in the back.

However, in McKinley’s case the damage was more severe. His stomach had been perforated and his pancreas severely damaged (and there might have been more stuff hit, but that’s all I can remember).

Now the question: Given medical technology at the time–and no opportunistic infections–what might have been the prognosis, specifically in regard to the damaged pancreas? Might he have suffered from some diabetic-type of situation or could he have gone on for years with a damaged pancreas.

(BTW, I posted this question a few years ago, but that thread was apparently lost in one of the board meltdowns–and believe me, I’ve tried every keyword and found zip. I don’t recall what the answers were–or even whether anyone with some medical knowledge might have responded.)

2

IIRC, the only assassinated president that died despite the best efforts of doctors using the medical knowledge of their time was JFK (yes, with proper contemporary treatment, Lincoln could have survived – the issue was covered in American Heritage).

The doctor who operated on McKinley was a gynecologist (even though experienced surgeons were available) who operated in a dark room without the proper tools. (See details.)

The issue is whether McKinely died of pancreatic necrosis, which would have been untreatable. Doctors of his time didn’t think that was the cause; later commentators believed it might be.

So it all depends on whether the pancreas could still function. If it could, in even a limited way, then McKinley would have survived using good contemporary medical care. If not, there was nothing they could do.