Laparoscopic side-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy (Partington-Rochelle) for chronic pancreatitis

Intractable pain in chronic pancreatitis has been treated by several different procedures, including resection and drainage, or a combination of the two. We describe the technique of laparoscopic side-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy for chronic pancreatitis in five patients. The procedure is performed using five trocars. Stapling and direct suturing are required. Careful selection of patients is important. Preoperative and intraoperative ultrasound is necessary to assess the dilated pancreatic duct. In one of the five patients, the laparoscopic technique was converted to an open procedure because the preoperative findings were not confirmed at exploration. Four of the five patients are pain-free, with 5- to 30-month follow-up. Laparoscopic pancreaticojejunostomy can be performed safely, and it is a procedure that should be considered in the treatment of appropriate patients with chronic pancreatitis. Received for publication on Aug. 17, 1998; accepted on June 10, 1999