Duodenum preserving resection of the head of the pancreas in painful chronic pancreatitis

Objective: Evaluation of duodenum preserving resection of the head of the pancreas in patients with disabling pain caused by chronic pancreatitis with an inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University hospital, The Netherlands. Subjects: 15 consecutive patients. Main outcome measures: Mortality, morbidity, pain relief, endocrine and exocrine function. Results: There was no 30 day postoperative mortality. Early morbidity consisted of small bowel leak (n = 1), obstructive ileus (n = 1) and peri anastomotic abscess (n = 2). Relief of pain was achieved in 13 patients (86%) after a mean follow up of 37 months; 11 (73%) were totally free of pain, and 2 (13%) had improved. Neither endocrine nor exocrine function deteriorated significantly after resection. Conclusion: Duodenum preserving resection is an effective operation in patients with disabling pain caused by chronic pancreatitis with an inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas.