QUALITY-OF-LIFE AFTER TREATMENT FOR PANCREATITIS

Citation
Ah. Broome et al., QUALITY-OF-LIFE AFTER TREATMENT FOR PANCREATITIS, Annals of surgery, 223(6), 1996, pp. 665-670
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Surgery
Journal title
ISSN journal
00034932
Volume
223
Issue
6
Year of publication
1996
Pages
665 - 670
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-4932(1996)223:6<665:QATFP>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
Objective The authors evaluated the morbidity, mortality, and quality of life after pancreatic debridement for necrosis and compared these v alues to those for quality of life after elective medical and surgical management for chronic pancreatitis. Summary Background Data Quality of life after pancreatic debridement for necrosis has received little attention. Although quality of life after other pancreatic surgery has been evaluated and is thought to be good, management of patients with pancreatic necrosis can be labor intensive and require extraordinary resources. Therefore, further evaluation of the quality of life achiev ed after treatment is appropriate. Methods Forty patients (group 1) un derwent operative debridement for necrosis between 1986 and 1994. Medi cal records of these patients were reviewed for morbidity, mortality, and in-hospital costs. Follow-up of quality of life was assessed by th e Short Form-36 Health Survey. Patients in group 2 (n = 89) underwent medical management of chronic pancreatitis. Group 3 included 47 patien ts who underwent elective operations for ductal abnormalities. The Sho rt Form-36 Health Surveys were administered to all three groups and co mpared statistically.Results Mortality and morbidity from pancreatic d ebridement was 18% and 77%, respectively. Quality-of-life evaluations in groups 1 through 3 and age-matched controls were statistically simi lar. Conclusions Pancreatic debridement for necrosis requires intense application of resources and is associated with a high mortality and m orbidity. Long-term follow-up shows good quality of life for patients who survive this morbid disease. This study supports the continued agg ressive approach to the management of pancreatic necrosis, given that long-term outcome about quality of life is good.