Objectives: Chronic pancreatitis is a debilitating and progressive inflammatory disease with an altered quality of life due to severe abdominal pain. Pancreaticoduodenectomy is a surgical option for patients with bulky disease involving the head of the pancreas, especially when this disease has progressed to stricture of the bile duct, duodenum, or both. A long term issue associated with this procedure is stricture of the pancreatic anastomosis. Re-operative and endoscopic interventions are difficult related to difficulty in reaching the anastomosis endoscopically. We describe a variation of this procedure with potential to lead to longer term improvement in drainage of the residual pancreas.
Methods: We reviewed electronic medical records of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for chronic pancreatitis performed by one surgeon at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, between 2014 and 2023. Information gathered from the patients' records included preoperative demographics, perioperative outcomes, and postoperative follow up information.
Results: The described procedure was performed in eight patients between 2014 and 2023. Three patients have died since surgery at 1.5, 5.5, and 8 years postop, with no deaths related to pancreatitis or surgical complications. Of the remaining five patients, median time from surgery is 7.5 years.
Conclusions: We describe a surgical technique which may reduce the risk of pancreaticojejunal stricture in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for chronic pancreatitis. In a small series of patients, this procedure can be performed safely with acceptable results.
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