Surgical therapy for chronic pancreatitis: selecting the appropriate approach

Surgical therapy of 37 patients with chronic pancreatitis is reviewed. Procedures included longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy (10), DuVal (5), distal resection (4), pancreaticoduodenectomy (2), sphincteroplasty (7), pseudocyst drainage (6) and other miscellaneous procedures. Complication rates were 30 percent for lateral pancreaticojejunostomy, 28.5 percent for sphincteroplasty and 72.7 percent for resection procedures. The overall complication rate was 54.5 percent, and there were two deaths (5.4 percent). Follow-up is presented on 20 patients, of whom 16 are improved, 2 are unchanged and 2 are worse. Eight patients are dead and nine are lost to follow-up. Ductal anatomy is the most important consideration in the selection of a procedure. Lateral pancreaticojejunostomy, when applicable, is the procedure of choice. Resection should be considered when pancreaticojejunostomy has failed or is not indicated with pancreaticoduodenectomy, the procedure of choice in the diffusely diseased gland. Sphincteroplasty should be reserved for use in stenosing papillitis or as an ancillary procedure. Splanchnicectomy can be used for temporary palliation.