Organ-preserving surgery in chronic pancreatitis: the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection

Chronic pancreatitis is a inhomogeneous disease of multifactorial genesis and a variable clinical course. Upper abdominal pain is the leading clinical symptom of the majority of the patients. The primary treatment of these patients is conservative, but if the treatment fails in pain relief or organ complications occur surgical treatment is indicated. The most common organ complications due to chronic pancreatitis are stenosis of the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct, duodenal stenosis, stenosis of the portal vein with portal hypertension, pancreatic pseudocysts and the development of pancreatic fistula. Due to the pathophysiological concept of an elevated duct pressure as a source of pain, duct decompression by drainage procedures is the favored surgical procedure by many surgeons. Nevertheless, even in patients with a dilated pancreatic main duct, only half of the patients will benefit from drainage operations. Long-term severe upper abdominal pain and complications of the neighboring organs due to an inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas should be indicative for resective procedures which should be organ-preserving as much as possible and take into account the endocrine function of the pancreatic gland. Simultaneous multiple organ resections like pylorus-preserving partial duodenopancreatectomy or total pancreatectomy are not necessary for a benign disease and should be only performed in patients with proven malignancy. The aim of the surgical procedure is to reduce pain and frequency of relapsing pancreatitis without impairing the endocrine function of the pancreatic gland.     

Pancreaticojejunal anastomosis. Indication, technique and results

Pancreaticojejunal anastomosis. Indication, technique and results. Pancreaticojejunal anastomoses are performed for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis and after resection of pancreatic carcinomas. In chronic pancreatitis by drainage procedures (Partington-Rochelle and Puestow-Gillesby) one can expect good long term results, if the diameter of the pancreatic duct is at least 1 cm and the length of the anastomosis 6 cm. The duodenumpreserving head resection (Beger or Frey) is a combination of resection and drainage and is significant in the therapy of inflammatory head processes. In the surgical treatment of pancreatic carcinomas pancreaticojejunostomies are applied after head resection (Whipple-, pyloruspreserving modification). The end-to-side mucosa-mucosa anastomosis offers the best results concerning postoperativ complications and mortality rates.     

胰头肿块型胰腺炎的诊断与治疗

胰头肿块型慢性胰腺炎从临床表现上很难与胰头癌相鉴别,影像学检查在肿块型慢性胰腺炎诊断中起重要作用,对于手术指征的掌握、胰头部肿块的可切除性、手术方式的选择以及手术困难程度的估计很有帮助.目前已将发生于胰头的肿块型慢性胰腺炎视为胰腺癌发生的癌前病变.胰头肿块型慢性胰腺炎的手术方式是直接针对胰头的,不同的手术方法包括:胰十二指肠切除术(保留或不保留幽门)和胰头部分切除(Beger手术)加胰管引流术(Frey手术).胰头肿块型慢性胰腺炎一旦诊断明确即应积极手术治疗,手术方式尽可能采用胰十二指肠切除术,因为它不仅切除了胰头肿块、解除了胆道和胰管及十二指肠的梗阻,而且也去除了胰头癌的潜在病因;若胰头肿块巨大胰十二指肠切除有极大风险,可考虑保留十二指肠的胰头切除术.     

Surgery for Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is progressive inflammatory process of the pancreas. Abdominal pain remains the most debilitating symptom affecting quality of life, apart from diabetes mellitus, steatorrhoea and weight loss. The treatment options have evolved over the past decades and are aimed to provide durable relief in pain with possible attempt to support or improve the failing endocrine and exocrine functions. Surgical treatment options have shown the potentials to provide superior long term results compared to the pharmacological and endoscopic modalities and are broadly divided in to drainage, resection and combination hybrid procedures. The choice is based on the morphology of the main pancreatic duct, presence of head mass and associated complication of CP. Knowing the basic nature of the disease, total pancreatectomy seems a curative option but not without significant morbidities. There is recent paradigm shift towards organ sparing surgical procedures with reasonable success. Despite recent advancement in the treatment modalities for CP the overall quality of life remains moderate which need further addressal.     

慢性胰腺炎的治疗策略:内镜治疗与外科干预

慢性胰腺炎是由多种病因导致的胰腺慢性炎症性和纤维化病变,其基本治疗原则为去除病因、缓解症状、改善胰腺分泌功能不足及防治并发症等。目前,对于慢性胰腺炎治疗策略的探讨日趋增多,创伤递进式策略与早期外科手术干预是共性治疗理念。临床实践中,对于出现胰腺假性囊肿、胰管结石、胆管狭窄等并发症,内镜干预可作为优选治疗方式;无胰头部病变的主胰管扩张,可首选Partington术;合并胰头部病变,可行Beger术或Frey术;无主胰管扩张,应根据具体病变部位行胰腺切除术;全胰炎性病变或多发部位病变,可行全胰腺切除术。外科医师在诸多手术方式的选择中,应遵循个体化与多学科化的整体治疗理念与策略,尤其对于干预指征、时机及方式的掌控。笔者综合分析国内外研究进展,阐述慢性胰腺炎的内镜治疗与外科干预策略,以期进一步优化慢性胰腺炎病人的整体疗效。     

Duodenum-Preserving Subtotal and Total Pancreatic Head Resections for Inflammatory and Cystic Neoplastic Lesions of the Pancreas

Introduction For treatment of inflammatory and benign neoplastic lesions of the pancreatic head, a subtotal or total pancreatic head resection is a limited surgical procedure with the impact of replacing the application of a Whipple procedure. The objective of this work is to describe the technical modifications of subtotal and total pancreatic head resection for inflammatory and neoplastic lesions of the pancreas. The advantages of this limited surgical procedure are the preservation of the stomach, the duodenum and the extrahepatic biliary ducts for treatment of benign lesions of the pancreatic head, papilla, and intrapancreatic segment of the common bile duct. For chronic pancreatitis with an inflammatory mass complicated by compression of the common bile duct or causing multiple pancreatic main duct stenoses and dilatations, a subtotal pancreatic head resection results in a long-lasting pain control. Performing, in addition, a biliary anastomosis or a Partington Rochelle type of pancreatic main duct drainage, respectively, is a logic and simple extension of the procedure. The rationale for the application of duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection for cystic neoplastic lesions are complete exstirpation of the tumor and, as a consequence, interruption of carcinogenesis of the neoplasia preventing development of pancreatic cancer. Duodenum-preserving total head resection necessitates additional biliary and duodenal anastomoses. For mono-centric IPMN, MCN, and SCA tumors, located in the pancreatic head, total duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection can be performed without hospital mortality and resurgery for recurrency. Based on controlled clinical trials, duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection is superior to the Whipple-type resection with regard to lower postoperative morbidity, almost no delay of gastric emptying, preservation of the endocrine function, lower frequency of rehospitalization, early professional rehabilitation, and establishment of a predisease level of quality of life. Conclusion The limited surgical procedures of subtotal or total pancreatic head resection are simple, safe, ensures free tumour margins and replace in the authors institution the application of a Whipple-type head resection.     

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??Treatment of Chronic pancreatitis(CP) with an inflammatory mass ZHANG Zhong-tao,YIN Jie. Beijing Friendship Hospital,Capital Medical University,Beijing100050,China
Corresponding author: ZHANG Zhong-tao,E-mail: zhangzht@medmail.com.cn
Abstract Chronic pancreatitis(CP) with an inflammatory mass has been thought of as a precancerous lesion of pancreatic cancer, and it can lead to obstruction of the pancreatic duct, bile duct and duodenum. The CP with mass and pancreatic cancer are difficult to identify from clinical performance, and their prognosis are very different. Once CP with mass has been diagnosed it should be clear that surgical treatment is necessary in order to remove the focus, ease pain, and improve the patient's quality of life. Surgical strategy in CP with mass has been directed at the pancreatic head with a variety of tactics including pancreatoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure with or without pylorus preservation) and duodenum-preserving resection of the pancreatic head (Beger operation and other operations). Pancreatoduodenectomy is preformed in the treatment of CP with mass, not only resection of the pancreatic head mass, lifting the obstruction of the pancreatic duct, bile duct and duodenum, but also removing the potential causes of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatoduodenectomy is a great risk When the pancreatic head mass is large, but the partial head resection can be accomplished with relative safety.     

Management of pain in small duct chronic pancreatitis

Small duct chronic pancreatitis (CP) is defined by a nondilated main pancreatic duct, and the morphological and clinical features of chronic pancreatitis with pain are the most prominent symptoms. Current treatment strategies are based on pain history and the location and extent of disease. Traditionally, radical pancreatic resectional procedures have been carried out for small duct CP, especially with an associated head mass of uncertain aetiology. Based on the information from five randomized trials, the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection and its modifications have proven to provide excellent long-term pain relief and to be superior to more radical operations. Therefore, these procedures can be considered the standard for small duct CP with head dominant disease. The longitudinal V-shaped excision of the ventral pancreas combines extensive drainage and a limited resection and offers good pain relief in diffuse small duct CP. However, long-term results and larger series are awaited for definite conclusions. Thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy and endosonography-guided celiac plexus blocks require controlled trials before their routine use. This article provides an overview about the current and evidence-based pain management in small duct CP. Presented at the 2005 American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Congress, Hollywood, Florida, April 14–17, 2005.     

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??Rationality of surgical managements according to the pathological anatomy of chronic pancreatitis GAO Hong-qiao, CAI Meng-shan, MA Yong-su, et al. Department of General Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
Corresponding author: YANG Yin-mo, E-mail: yangyinmo@263.net
Abstract Objective To investigate the outcome after surgery directed by pathological anatomy of chronic pancreatitis and provide evidence for surgical procedures. Methods The clinical material of 60 patients with chronic pancreatitis who underwent surgical treatment between 2000 and 2010 were investigated retrospectively. Result 43 cases (71.7%) presented with abdominal pain, Perioperative mortality was 1.7% (1 case). Forty-two patients with abdominal pain were all relieved after surgery, but long-term recurrence occered in 17 cases (40.5%). Modified Puestow procedure was performed on 21 patients with dilatation of pancreatic duct and/or lithiasis, long-term pain recurrence occered in 8 cases (38.1%); Six patients undergoing pancreatic head resection had no recurrence in the long-term follow-up; Pain recurrence rate of 11 cases with only cholangioenterostomy was 81.2% (9 cases) within 2 years. Chronic pancreatitis with common bile duct obstruction occurred in 33 cases(55%), cholangioenterostomy alone or combined with partly pancreatic resection or pancreatic duct drainage procedures could alleviate symptoms of biliary obstruction, 4(33.3%) cases after pure biliary drainage emerged abdominal pain, 5 cases of pancreatic head resection had no recurrence of jaundice and abdominal pain after long-term follow-up. Conclusion Surgical procedures should be selected according to the pathological anatomy of chronic pancreatitis. Reasonable pancreatic head resection and adequate bile and/or pancreatic drainage could significantly improve the long-term outcomes.     

Indications and outcomes of surgical management of chronic pancreatitis: literature review

Surgical management of chronic pancreatitis remains a challenge for surgeons. Last decades, the improvement of knowledge regarding to pathophysiology of chronic pancreatitis, improved results of major pancreatic resections, and new diagnostic techniques in clinical practice resulted in significant changes in the surgical approach of this condition. Intractable pain, suspicion of malignancy, and involvement of adjacent organs are the main indications for surgery, while the improvement of patient's quality of life is the main purpose of surgical treatment. The surgical approach to chronic pancreatitis should be individualized based on pancreatic anatomy, pain characteristics, exocrine and endocrine function, and medical co-morbidity. The surgical treatment approach usually involves pancreatic duct drainage procedures and resectional procedures including longitudinal pancreatojejunostomy, pancreatoduodenectomy, pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, total pancreatectomy, duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (Beger's procedure), and local resection of the pancreatic head with longitudinal pancreatojejunostomy (Frey's procedure). Recently, non-pancreatic and endoscopic management of pain have also been described (splancnicectomy). Surgical procedures provide long-term pain relief, improve the patients? quality of life with preservation of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function, and are associated with low mortality and morbidity rates. However, new studies are needed to determine which procedure is safe and effective for the surgical management of patients with chronic pancreatitis.     

胰头部肿块型慢性胰腺炎诊断与治疗

胰头部肿块型慢性胰腺炎从临床表现上很难与胰头癌相鉴别,目前已将发生于胰头部的肿块型慢性胰腺炎视为胰腺癌发生的癌前病变。影像学检查在肿块型慢性胰腺炎诊断中起着重要作用,对于手术指征的掌握、胰头部肿块的可切除性、手术方式的选择以及手术困难程度的估计很有帮助。胰头部肿块型慢性胰腺炎的手术方式是直接针对胰头的,不同的手术方法包括胰十二指肠切除术（保留或不保留幽门的Whipple手术）和胰头部分切除加胰管引流术（Frey 手术,Beger 手术）。胰头肿块型慢性胰腺炎一旦诊断明确即应积极手术治疗,手术方式尽可能采用胰十二指肠切除术,因为它不仅切除了胰头部肿块、解除了胆道和胰管及十二指肠的梗阻,而且也去除了胰头癌的潜在病因;如胰头肿块巨大,行胰十二指肠切除有极大风险,可考虑行保留十二指肠的胰头切除术。     

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??Diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis with mass in the head of the pancreas ZHANG Zhong-tao, YIN Jie.Department of General Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China Corresponding author: ZHANG Zhong-tao, E-mail: zhangzht@medmail. com.cn Abstract Chronic pancreatitis (CP) with mass and pancreatic cancer are difficult to identify from the Clinical performance. At present, we have the CP with mass as a precancerous lesion of pancreatic cancer. Imaging methods in the diagnosis of the CP with mass plays an important role, which is very helpful for the Indications for surgery of the hands, of resectable pancreatic head tumor, and surgical options, as well as estimates of the difficulty of the surgery. Surgical strategy in CP with mass has been directed at the pancreatic head with a variety of tactics including pancreatoduodenectomy(Whipple procedure with or without pylorus preservation) and partial resection of the pancreatic duct drainage(Frey operation, Beger operation ). Once the diagnosis of the CP with mass should be clear that the surgical treatment, pancreatoduodenectomy is preformed in the treatment of CP with mass, not only resection of the pancreatic head mass, the lifting of the bile duct and pancreatic duct and obstruction of the duodenum, but also in addition to the potential causes of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatoduodenectomy is great risk When the great mass of pancreatic head, but the partial head resection can be accomplished with relative safety.     

Laterale Anastomosentechniken

Characteristic symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are difficult to manage conservatively. They include severe pain and endocrine and exocrine insufficiency. Surgical treatment with simple and extended draining procedures addresses pain relief and the management of chronic pancreatitis-associated complications of adjacent organs. Following the assumption that pancreatic duct changes with intraductal hypertension are the reason for pain, simple drainage procedures have reduced pain in up to 80% of patients, with low morbidity and mortality. In case of complications involving adjacent organs with inflammatory pancreatic head tumor and stenosis of the distal bile duct, extended drainage procedures with limited pancreatic head resection according to Frey and V-shaped excision of the ventral aspect of the pancreas have been performed successfully.     

保留十二指肠的胰头全切术治疗慢性胰腺炎35例报告

目的 总结保留十二指肠的胰头全切术治疗慢性胰腺炎的经验.方法 回顾分析自1999年1月至2006年12月采用保留十二指肠的胰头全切术治疗慢性胰腺炎35例的临床资料,并对患者疼痛改善情况及内分泌功能变化进行随访.结果 平均手术时间为286±55min,平均手术输血量为1.4±1.3单位压积红细胞.无手术死亡.术后并发症发生率为17%,其中1例胰瘘,3例胆漏,1例腹腔出血,1例切口裂开,无十二指肠瘘.术后患者疼痛得到缓解,QLQ-C30疼痛评分由术前的59±27降至术后的13±21.术后患者内分泌功能未继续恶化,随访过程中无新增糖尿病病例出现.结论 保留十二指肠的胰头全切术是一种安全、有效的治疗慢性胰腺炎的手术方式.较之保留十二指肠的胰头次全切除术,本手术能更彻底的切除胰头和钩突的炎性病变.     

Surgery for complications of chronic pancreatitis]

At least 50 % of all patients with chronic pancreatitis require surgical treatment in the course of their disease. Indications for surgery are intractable pain, intra- and extrapancreatic complications and the suspicion of a carcinoma. The basic principles of surgery are resection and drainage. The choice of the surgical procedure depends on the morphological expression and the localization of the pathological changes. Regarding resections in the head-area, previous studies demonstrated uniformly the superiority of the duodenum-preserving pancreas head resection (DPPHR) compared to the Kausch-Whipple operation with and without maintenance of the pylorus. Drainage procedures (pain recurrence in 20-40 % in the long-term course) and left pancreatic resections (de-novo diabetes mellitus in up to 45 %) should be considered critically.Between May 1994 and November 2000 117 patients underwent surgical therapy for complications of chronic pancreatitis at our institution. Resections were performed in 68 % of the patients and drainage procedures in 20 %. There was no mortality. Over the years the proportion of the DPPHR increased in comparison to the Kausch-Whipple procedure and the number of the drainage operations decreased continuously. The DPPHR was significantly superior to the Kausch-Whipple procedure with regard to the glucose metabolism and the quality-of-life. In the spectrum of surgical procedures in chronic pancreatitis, the DPPHR represents a modern, organ-preserving procedure for patients with complications in the pancreas head.     

Extent of surgical resections for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) can involve the main pancreatic duct (MD-IPMNs) or its secondary branches (BD-IPMNs) in a segmental of multifocal/diffuse fashion. Growing evidence indicates that BD-IPMNs are less likely to harbour cancer and in selected cases these lesions can be managed non operatively. For surgery, clarification is required on: (1) when to resect an IPMN; (2) which type of resection should be performed; and (3) how much pancreas should be resected. In recent years parenchyma-sparing resections as well as laparoscopic procedures have being performed more frequently by pancreatic surgeons in order to decrease the rate of postoperative pancreatic insufficiency and to minimize the surgical impact of these operations. However, oncological radicality is of paramount importance, and extended resections up to total pancreatectomy may be necessary in the setting of IPMNs. In this article the type and extension of surgical resections in patients with MD-IPMNs and BD-IPMNs are analyzed, evaluating perioperative and long-term outcomes. The role of standard and parenchyma-sparing resections is discussed as well as different strategies in the case of multifocal neoplasms.     

Surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis and quality of life after operation.

In conclusion, surgical therapy in patients with chronic pancreatitis may be characterized as follows: 1. Independently, several investigators have found intraductal and intraparenchymatous hypertension in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Decompression of the ductal system as the main principle of surgical therapy achieves clinical pain relief in most patients with chronic pancreatitis. The precondition is a consequent drainage of the main pancreatic duct and tributary ducts of second and third order up to the prepapillary region. The presence of an inflammatory tumor in the head of the pancreas or ductal abnormalities in the prepapillary region or a pancreas divisum requires performance of an extended drainage operation (LPJ-LPHE) to achieve pain relief and an improved quality of life. An extended drainage operation effectively manages complications arising from adjacent organs, such as distal common bile duct stenosis, segmental duodenal stenosis, and internal pancreatic fistulas. The extent of decompression has to be tailored to the anatomic and morphologic situation of the patient. 2. In patients with chronic pancreatitis, the main pancreatic duct is usually dilated. A small duct (3-5 mm) is only small for the surgeon. For the sclerosing entity of chronic pancreatitis with a truly small duct, that is, less than 3 mm in diameter ("small duct disease"), a longitudinal V-shaped excision of the ventral pancreas, as opposed to left resection, provides a new perspective for a sufficient drainage. 3. In the presence of segmental portal hypertension, a simple or extended drainage operation does not result in a normalization of the portal venous blood flow; however, how often relevant upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage develops from segmental portal hypertension is unclear. Therefore, the clinical relevance of this special problem needs further evaluation. 4. Postoperative morbidity of LPJ-LPHE is significantly lower in comparison to resectional procedures, such as PD, PPPD, and DPRHP. A lower perioperative mortality rate is not justified anymore as a relevant criterion in favor of drainage procedures because resectional procedures are burdened by a minimal or no mortality in experienced centers; however, PD and PPPD are greatly hampered by a significantly decreased postoperative global quality of life as opposed to the LPJ-LPHE. This is reflected by a significantly lower rate of social and professional rehabilitation. 5. The incidence of exocrine and endocrine organ dysfunction is lower after LPJ-LPHE compared with PD or PPPD, but not compared with DPRHP. Preservation of the gastroduodenal passage and the continuity of the bile duct with its associated feedback mechanisms of exocrine pancreatic secretion and glucose metabolism seem to be responsible for this phenomenon. 6. An early surgical or endoscopic interventional drainage of the hypertensive pancreatic duct system possibly offers the chance to favorably manipulate the natural course of chronic pancreatitis with regard to a delayed onset of exocrine or endocrine insufficiency. 7. Late mortality reflects continued alcohol abuse rather than the effect of an operative procedure.     

Long-term Outcome After Resection for Chronic Pancreatitis in 224 Patients

Introduction Organ complications like biliary or duodenal stenosis as well as intractable pain are current indications for surgery in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). We present here our experience with pancreatic resection for CP and focus on the long-term outcome after surgery regarding pain, exocrine/endocrine pancreatic function, and the control of organ complications in 224 patients with a median postoperative follow-up period of 56 months. Methods During 11 years 272 pancreatic resections were performed in our institution for CP. Perioperative mortality was 1%. Follow-up data using at least standardized questionnaires were available in 224 patients. The types of resection in these 224 patients were Whipple (9%), pylorus-preserving pancreato-duodenectomy (PD) (PPPD; 40%), duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR; 41%, 50 Frey, 42 Beger), distal (9%) and two central pancreatic resections. Eighty-six of the patients were part of a randomized study comparing PPPD and DPPHR. The perioperative and follow-up (f/up) data were prospectively documented. Exocrine insufficiency was regarded as the presence of steatorrhea and/or the need for oral enzyme supplementation. Multivariate analysis was performed using binary logistic regression. Results Perioperative surgical morbidity was 28% and did not differ between the types of resection. At last f/up 87% of the patients were pain-free (60%) or had pain less frequently than once per week (27%). Thirteen percent had frequent pain, at least once per week (no difference between the operative procedures). A concomitant exocrine insufficiency and former postoperative surgical complications were the strongest independent risk factors for pain and frequent pain at follow-up. At the last f/up 65% had exocrine insufficiency, half of them developed it during the postoperative course. The presence of regional or generalized portal hypertension, a low preoperative body mass index, and a longer preoperative duration of CP were independent risk factors for exocrine insufficiency. Thirty-seven percent of the patients without preoperative diabetes developed de novo diabetes during f/up (no risk factor identified). Both, exocrine and endocrine insufficiencies were independent of the type of surgery. Median weight gain was 2 kg and higher in patients with preoperative malnutrition and in patients without abdominal pain. After PPPD, 8% of the patients had peptic jejunal ulcers, whereas 4% presented with biliary complications after DPPHR. Late mortality was analyzed in 233 patients. Survival rates after pancreatic resection for CP were 86% after 5 years and 65% after 10 years. Conclusions Pancreatic resection leads to adequate pain control in the majority of patients with CP. Long-term outcome does not depend on the type of surgical procedure but is in part influenced by severe preoperative CP and by postoperative surgical complications (regarding pain). A few patients develop procedure-related late complications. Late mortality is high, probably because of the high comorbidity (alcohol, smoking) in many of these patients.     

Surgical treatment of pancreas divisum causing chronic pancreatitis: The outcome benefits of duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection

Pancreas divisum (PD) represents a duct anomaly in the pancreatic head ducts, leading frequently leading to recurrent acute pancreatitis (rAP) or chronic pancreatitis (CP). Based on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, pancreas divisum can be found in 1% to 6% of patients with pancreatitis. The correlation of this abnormality with pancreatic disease is an issue of continuing controversy. Because of the underlying duct anomalies and major pathomorphological changes in the pancreatic head, duodenumpreserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) offers an option for causal treatment. Thirty-six patients with pancreatitis caused by PD were treated surgically. Thirty patients suffered from CP, 6 from rAP. The mean duration of the disease was 47.5 and 49.8 months, respectively. The age at the time of surgery was 39.2 years in the CPgroup, and 27.6 years in the rAP group. Median hospitalization since diagnosis was 18.8 weeks for CP patients and 24.6 weeks for rAP patients. Previous procedures performed in these patients included endoscopic papillotomy (30%), duct stenting (14%), and surgical treatment (17%). The median preoperative pain score was 8 on a visual analog scale. According to the classification of pancreas divisum, 10 patients demonstrated a complete PD, 25 had a functionally incomplete PD, and 1 had a dorsal duct type. The pain status as well as the endocrine (oral glucose tolerance test) and exocrine (pancreolauryl test) function were evaluated preoperatively and early and late postoperatively with a median follow-up time of 39.3 months. There was no operative-related mortality. The follow-up was 100%; 4 patients died (1 from suicide, 1 from cardiac arrest, and 2 from cancer of the esophagus). Fifty percent of the patients were completely pain-free,31%hada significant reduction of pain with a median pain score of 2 (P < 0.001). Six patients (5 CP, 1 rAP) had further attacks of acute pancreatitis with a need for hospitalization. DPPHR reduced pain and preserved the endocrine function in the majority of patients with pancreas divisum. Therefore, DPPHR is an alternative to other resective or drainage procedures after failure of interventional treatment.     

Management of Pancreaticoduodenal Injuries

The nature of the pancreatic or duodenal injury itself influences mortality, and is co-dependent on the presence of multiple other injuries, which account for most of the early mortality. Intra-abdominal sepsis leading to multiple organ failure accounts for most of the late deaths, indicating the importance of early haemodynamic stabilization, adequate debridement of devitalized tissue and wide drainage. Most duodenal injuries can be adequately managed with primary repair or resection and anastomosis. The presence of a pancreatic injury certainly increases the likelihood of an anastomic leak from a duodenal repair. With a significant associated pancreatic injury a more conservative initial approach to the duodenal injury may be more appropriate. Pancreatic injuries should be treated by debridement and simple drainage unless there is clinically obvious duct involvement. For distal injuries with duct involvement, a distal pancreatectomy is indicated. In injuries to the pancreatic head with clinical duct involvement, complex procedures such as pancreaticoduodenectomy should not be performed in the unstable patient with multiple injuries. Debridement and wide external drainage may be implemented and the resulting fistula dealt with at a later operation, if necessary. Large, complex, combined pancreaticoduodenal injuries may require temporary duodenal ligation or a pancreaticoduodenectomy and subsequent reconstruction.