[After-care following surgery of the pancreas]

Postoperative treatment after pancreas surgery is concentrated on the function of the exocrine and endocrine part of the gland. While functional disturbances of the endocrine pancreas may give rise to serious problems associated with diabetes, functional disturbances of the exocrine pancreas are less important. On the other hand, flow disorders of the exocrine pancreas may lead to pancreatitis, fistulas, cysts, and abdominal sepsis. Pancreatic tumours are not infrequently apudomas whose biology has an important bearing on the after-treatment. Thrombophlebitic splenomegaly may lead to portal and possibly to segmental portal hypertension. In this event, a careful follow-up examination will be needed to decide whether further surgery is necessary.