SPLENIC VEIN-THROMBOSIS AND CHRONIC-PANCR EATITIS - THERAPEUTIC APPROACH

10% of chronic pancreatitis (CP) cases are complicated by splenic vein thrombosis (SVT) which is responsible for upper digestive haemorrhage s. To improve our approach to treatment we reviewed 30 cases of SVT as sociated with CP treated in our centre from 1985 to 1995. 14 patients were treated conservatively. Six of them were refused for surgery due to extension of splenic vein thrombosis into the portal vein. Two pati ents without extrinsic compression of the vein were treated with antic oagulants. 16 patients were treated by surgery with low morbidity and without mortality. The standard treatment in fourteen cases was spleno pancreatectomy. The average follow-up of seven years shows that these patients have preserved their body mass index (BMI). The results sugge st that early surgical intervention is beneficial in preventing progre ssion of SVT to the portomesenteric vein.