The surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis: a clinical series of 17 cases.

Introduction: Despite the fact that in the last few years, new invasive non-surgical therapies were introduced, surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis still plays an important part. The aim of the study is to evaluate pain remission and quality of life after surgical approach. Material and method: We present 17 cases of chronic pancreatitis that were operated between 2007-2011. Surgical treatment was decided for after the failure of pain control therapy (14 cases) and by the suspicion of cancer in the head of the pancreas (3 cases). Imaging data for all the cases, CT-CE and ERCP, guided us in choosing the right therapy. Surgical techniques performed were pancreatico-jejunostomy (PJ) in eleven cases and duodenopancreatectomy (DP) in six cases. Results: Good pain control was achieved in 10 patients: 6-PJ and 4-DP. Moderate results were observed in 4 cases: 2-PJ and 2-DP. In 3 patients symptoms remained the same. Conclusion: There is no consensus over the surgical treatment in chronic pancreatitis. Surgical approach, strongly motivated and personalised for each patient is followed by good results. It is possible that in the future, limited resections become the therapy of choice, replacing classic ones.