Evaluation of Surgical Treatment of Chronic Pancreatitis

The postoperative results of 34 cases of chronic pancreatitis were evaluated in reference to different surgical operations. They comprised those of side-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy in 12 cases, distal pancreatectomy in 7, pancreatoduodenectomy in 5, pancreatolithotomy in 4 and other operative procedures in 6. In the overall assessment after a long-term follow-up, good results were found in 18 cases. When cases of immediate postoperative death and 2 cases of pancreatic cancer detected at operation were excluded, the above 18 cases made 62% of 29 operated cases. The best result was obtained by the side-to-side panereaticojejunostomy, 8 patients out of 9 having returned to normal life. Fat absorption was not favorably influenced by the operation, in contrast to remarkable relief of pain. There was a certain limit to the beneficial effect of surgical operations in patients with advanced pancreatic lesion.