INTRAOPERATIVE RISKS AND EARLY POSTOPERAT IVE COMPLICATIONS OF SURGERY FOR CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS

69 patients (1986-1991) who underwent conventional surgery for chronic pancreatitis (n=42) or related pseudocysts (n=27) were analyzed retro spectively. 17 patients underwent partial duodenopancreatectomy (pDPE) , 13 pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ), 20 cystojejunostomy (CJ), 9 resectio n of the left pancreas and 10 other procedures. We evaluated especiall y time spent in hospital (pDPE:28,5d (mean), PJ:29d, CJ:22,3d, others: 28,8d), duration of operation (pDPE:6h, PJ:4,6h, CJ:2,6h, others:2,6h) , requirement for blood substitution (pDPE:3,2 units, PJ:3, CJ:0,8, ot hers:1,9), postoperative surgical (pDPE:6%, PJ:15%, CJ:5%, others:29%) and non-surgical (pDPE:0, PJ:0, CJ:15%, others:14%)complications, and operative mortality (0 in all groups). Conventional surgery for chron ic pancreatitis and pseudocysts carries a very low mortality risk but may cause prolonged morbidity in a minority of cases.