INTRODUCTION: Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive inflammatory disorder characterized by irreversible destruction of pancreatic parenchyma and may be associated with disabling chronic pain and permanent loss of endocrine and exocrine function. Main indication for surgery is intractable abdominal pain and choosing the best technique to be used for a patient remains a challenge. The technique described by Frey combines the effectiveness of pain control characteristic of resection surgery with low mortality and morbidity of derivative procedures. AIM: To compare and discuss the results of surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis with Frey procedure. METHODS: A literature review of scientific articles available in Medline/Pubmed database and the national theses descriptors with terms chronic pancreatitis, surgical treatment and Frey procedure. It was selected the most important articles and that reported more experience with this surgical option. CONCLUSIONS: Frey procedure proves to be an option with high effectiveness in controlling abdominal pain secondary to chronic pancreatitis in the long term in patients with abdominal pain and enlarged pancreatic head, with lower rates of morbidity and mortality. The studies showed little interference of technique in the deterioration of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic functions.
Pancreatitis; Chronic disease; Pancreas, surgery; Abdomen, surgery; Pancreatojejunostomy
