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.