[Complications of surgery on the pancreas]

The authors carried out 198 various operations for chronic pancreatitis and carcinoma of the pancreas. Postoperative complications occurred in 105 (53%) patients. Twenty-four (12%) patients died. Right resections of the pancreas were complicated by incompetence of the stump sutures when the remaining part of the gland was large and its tissue changed mildly. In left resection the stump of the gland was sutured completely after wirsungography and complete assurance that the pancreatic duct was not obstructed. In impaired patency of the duct pancreato-digestive anastomoses were established. Tampons and tubes were left in the abdominal cavity in 95-97% of pancreatic resections. Healing occurred through the formation of pancreatic fistulas which closed under the effect of nonoperative treatment.