[Duodenal obstruction due to chronic pancreatitis]

Chronic pancreatitis may cause a number of obstructive complications. Obstructions of the pancreatic and common bile duct are the most frequent, obstruction of the duodenum is rare and obstruction of the colon is very rare. Duodenal stenosis caused by chronic pancreatitis is usually moderate so that the surgical treatment is not necessary except if operation is necessary for other obstructive complications. The severe isolated duodenal stenosis for which surgery is mandatory is rare. We present a 46-year old male suffering from chronic alcoholic pancreatitis causing almost complete duodenal obstruction in whom surgical treatment was necessary. The truncal vagotomy and gastroenterostomy were performed. With abstinence of alcohol, low fat diet and substitute therapy more than 3 years after surgery the patient is symptom-free. He regained the previous weight and shows tendency to become fat.