SURGERY FOR NONALCOHOLIC CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS

There are few reports on operations in patients with nonalcoholic panc reatitis. Between 1985 and 1995 we operated on 58 such patients, 38 of whom were male and 20 female with a mean age of 35 Sears (range 5-72 gears). The indications for operation were pain (rr = 49), biliary obs truction (n = 12), duodenal obstruction (n = 10), portal hypertension (n = 11), cysts (n = 14), and pancreatic ascites (n = 3). Thirty-four patients with a dilated pancreatic duct underwent pancreaticojejunosto my; cysts were drained internally in eight, and biliary and duodenal o bstruction was bypassed. Ten patients also underwent surgery for porta l hypertension. Four (7%) patients died during the postoperative perio d. Of the remaining 54 patients, 48 (89%) were followed up for a media n period of 63 months (range 6 months to 10 years). Sir died: four of pancreatic cancer, one of cerebrovascular accident, and one of malnutr ition. Of the 34 surviving patients operated for pain, 30 (88%) felt b etter, of whom 24 (71%) had complete relief of pain; 14 (41%) recorded a weight gain. Pancreatic decompression results in immediate and last ing pain relief in most patients with nonalcoholic chronic pancreatiti s.