Pancreatic duct drainage in chronic pancreatitis

Pancreatic duct drainage is an effective method of dealing with many of the surgical complications of chronic pancreatitis without sacrificing pancreatic endocrine or exocrine function. Between 65 and 90% of patients with intractable pain of chronic pancreatitis and a dilated pancreatic duct will have substantial pain relief with complete ductal drainage by a lateral pancreaticojejunostomy. The mortality of this procedure ranges from 0 to 5%. In spite of operation, late mortality of this disease remains high with 1/3 to 1/2 of patients dying within 10 years. Fixed biliary tract obstruction and upper gastrointestinal obstruction can also complicate chronic pancreatitis. We have combined drainage of the common bile duct and stomach with pancreaticojejunostomy to deal with these problems and have found no increase in morbidity or mortality. Pseudocysts occur more frequently in patients with chronic pancreatitis. We have also combined pseudocyst drainage with lateral pancreaticojejunostomy in 26 patients having both pseudocysts and chronic pancreatitis. These patients achieve the same degree of pain relief noted in patients undergoing lateral pancreaticojejunostomy alone without any increase in morbidity or mortality. Drainage procedures are safe and effective and are our preferred method of dealing with obstructive complications of chronic pancreatitis.