CURRENT SURGICAL TRENDS IN JAPAN FOR MANAGING CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS

The main aims of surgery for treating chronic pancreatitis are to reli eve the patient's persistent pain and to preserve pancreatic functioni ng. The indications for surgery include treating complications, such a s the presence of pancreatic pseudocysts or biliary stenosis associate d with chronic pancreatitis or both. A resection, ductal drainage, or both, may commonly be required. Furthermore, some surgeons recommend p ancreatic denervation. We analyze the details of 2,936 patients with c hronic pancreatitis who were treated surgically and were listed in the 1985 National Statistics in Japan. We have also evaluated the present surgical methods for treating chronic pancreatitis in Japan. In addit ion, we discuss a new surgical method being used to treat chronic panc reatitis. This is a recently improved technique involving a complete d uodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas, which also p reserves the biliary and alimentary tracts.