BACKGROUND: To evaluate the indications, methods and results of the surgical treatment of 74 patients operated on for chronic pancreatitis complications. METHOD: Consecutive patients' charts were studied prospectively, during the years of 1971 to 2000. Surgery was indicated for pain, billiary tract stricture, pseudocysts, pancreatic ascitis and pancreaticopleural fistulas. Pancreaticojejunal anastomosis, billiary tract derivations and resections were performed. Follow-up was achieved through ambulatorial appointments or by mail and telephone calls. RESULTS: Of 270 patients listed with chronic pancreatitis, 74 (27.4%) were operated on. 97.7% of them were males. Patients varied in age from 15 to 63 years old, with an average of 39.4 years for alchoolists and 33.1years for those with pancreatitis of other etiologies. The disease was caused by alchool in 68 patients (90.5%). The other causes were: hyperparathyroidism (1), hereditary pancratitis (1), retroperitoneal fibrosis(1) and in three patients the etiology was unknown. Indications for surgery were: 1. Pain in 44.6% of the patients; 2. Billiary tract stricture (28.4%); 3.Pseudocysts (12.2%); 4. Pancreatic ascitis and pancreaticopleural fistulas (10.8%). Derivations were performed in 50 patients (67.5%), and resections in 24 (32.5%). Complications ocurred in eight patients with five hospital deaths related to abscesses, suture leaking and surgical bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: There was less morbidity and mortality for derivations and than after resections.
Pancreatitis; Chronic pancreatitis; Panceraticoduodenectomy; Pancreatic resections; Internal pancreatic fistulas
