The Surgical Treatment of Chronic Pancreatitis: A Clinical Series of 17 Cases
D. Vasile, A. Ilco, D. Popa, A. Belega, S. PanaOriginal article, no. 6, 2013
Introduction: Despite the fact that in the last few years, newinvasive non-surgical therapies were introduced, surgicaltreatment of chronic pancreatitis still plays an important part.The aim of the study is to evaluate pain remission and qualityof life after surgical approach.Material and method:We present 17 cases of chronic pancreatitisthat were operated between 2007-2011. Surgical treatment wasdecided for after the failure of pain control therapy (14 cases)and by the suspicion of cancer in the head of the pancreas (3cases). Imaging data for all the cases, CT-CE and ERCP, guidedus in choosing the right therapy. Surgical techniques performedwere pancreatico-jejunostomy (PJ) in eleven cases and duodenopancreatectomy(DP) in six cases.Results: Good pain control was achieved in 10 patients: 6-PJand 4-DP. Moderate results were observed in 4 cases: 2-PJ and2-DP. In 3 patients symptoms remained the same.Conclusion: There is no consensus over the surgical treatmentin chronic pancreatitis. Surgical approach, strongly motivatedand personalised for each patient is followed by good results. Itis possible that in the future, limited resections become thetherapy of choice, replacing classic ones.
