[Function of the residual pancreas following partial duodeno-pancreatectomy]

After Whipple operations, follow-up examinations were conducted under hospital conditions in order to investigate the function of the remainder of the pancreas and the extent to which general health was adversely affected. General parameters such as vocational rehabilitation, history of pain, and weight were analyzed, as well as chemistry related to the severity of pancreatic malassimilation, e.g., stool weight, stool fat contents, fat utilization, chymotrypsin in stool, and PABA test. An exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was found in 80% of patients, but this was easily manageable using medications, sometimes in combination with a MCT fat diet. Subclinical diabetes mellitus was shown in 80% of patients using glucose tolerance tests. However, clinical manifestations of diabetes did not occur.