EARLY DERIVATION OPERATION CAN RESTORE THE PANCREAS HISTOLOGY AND FUNCTION IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PANCREATITIS IN THE CAT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obstruction of the main pancreatic duct leads to prog ressive obstructive and atrophying pancreatitis in the cat. The questi on remains whether ''early'' derivative procedures can halt the destru ctive process or not? METHODOLOGY: Twelve cats submitted to total obst ruction of the main pancreatic duct developed chronic obstructive panc reatitis as documented by histopathology. After 5 weeks, five animals underwent a caudal pancreaticojejunostomy, the others served as contro ls. Pancreatic histopathology and ductography was conducted in both gr oups, as well as tests of endocrine and exocrine functioning. RESULTS: Three of the five cats that underwent a derivation operation died 3-5 weeks following the second operation mainly due to infection, but 2 c ats could be followed-up for up to 52 weeks. The histological signs of inflammation and early fibrosis gradually disappeared and the pancrea s returned to normal as assessed by histology, radiology and pancreati c function tests. In contrast, cats not submitted to the derivation pr oceduredeveloped an atrophic chronic pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: A deso bstructive operation, carried out 5 weeks after total obstruction of t he main pancreatic duct in cats, can halt the progression of chronic o bstructive pancreatitis and leads to restitution of the pancreas as as sessed by histology, radiology and function tests.