Duodenum-preserving head resection for chronic pancreatitis: an institutional experience and national survey of usage

Improved Quality of Life Among Chronic Pancreatitis Patients Undergoing Total Pancreatectomy With Islet Autotransplantation-Single Center Experience With Large Cohort of Patients

Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) is the treatment of choice to preserve pancreatic endocrine function, alleviate pain, and improve quality of life (QoL) when other strategies are ineffective for chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients. This study utilized pancreatic disease-specific surveys developed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) to conduct a comprehensive, single-center examination of a large cohort of patients to gain understanding of QoL post-TPIAT. Two validated QoL surveys of the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and QLQ-PAN26-were administered in a prospective cohort of CP patients during pre-and post-operative scheduled visits. A total of 116 patients responded to the preoperative survey and were included in this study. The global health scale of QLQ-C30 was significantly improved after TPIAT when compared to baseline with delta scores of 24.26, 20.54, and 26.7 at 1, 2, and 3 years post-TPIAT (p < 0.001). The EORTC-PAN26 revealed significant improvements in symptom scales for pancreatic pain, bloating, digestive symptoms, taste, indigestion, weight loss, body image, and future worries. The comprehensive surveys in such a large cohort expands the QoL criterion in CP patients and indicates significant improvement in QoL post-TPIAT, further validating TPIAT as a treatment option for refractory CP.

Surgical Outcomes and Trends for Chronic Pancreatitis: An Observational Cohort Study from a High-Volume Centre

Surgery for chronic pancreatitis (CP) is considered as a last resort treatment. The present study aims to determine the short- and medium-term outcomes of surgical treatment for CP with a comparison between duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) and pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). The trends in surgical procedures were also examined. This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent surgery for CP between 2000 and 2019 at the Karolinska University Hospital. One hundred and sixty-two patients were included. Surgery performed included drainage procedures (n = 2), DPPHR (n = 35), resections (n = 114, of these PD in n = 65) and other procedures (n = 11). Morbidity occurred in 17%, and the 90-day mortality was 1%. Complete or partial pain relief was achieved in 65% of patients. No significant difference in morbidity was observed between the DPPHR and PD groups: 17% vs. 20% (p = 0.728). Pain relief did not differ between the groups (62% for DPPHR vs. 73% for PD, p = 0.142). The frequency of performed DPPHR decreased, whereas the rate of PD remained unaltered. Surgical treatment for CP is safe and effective. DPPHR and PD are comparable regarding post-operative morbidity and are equally effective in achieving pain relief. Trends over time revealed PD as more commonly performed compared to DPPHR.

Surgery in Chronic Pancreatitis: Indication, Timing and Procedures

Chronic pancreatitis is a chronic inflammation of the pancreas with pain as its severest symptom and often an impaired quality of life. Surgical intervention plays an important role in the management of pain but is generally kept as a last resort when conservative measures and endoscopy have failed. However, in the last few years multiple studies suggested the superiority of (early) surgical treatment in chronic pancreatitis for multiple end points, including pain relief. In this paper we highlight the most recent high-quality evidence on surgical therapy in chronic pancreatitis and the rationale for early (surgical) intervention.

Geographical variance in reporting of elective surgery for chronic pancreatitis

The selection of optimum surgical procedure from the range of reported operations for chronic pancreatitis (CP) can be difficult. The aim of this study is to explore geographical variation in reporting of elective surgery for CP. A systematic search of the literature was performed using the Scopus database for reports of five selected procedures for CP: duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection, total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT), Frey pancreaticojejunostomy, thoracoscopic splanchnotomy and the Izbicki V-shaped resection. The keyword and MESH heading 'chronic pancreatitis' was used. Overall, 144 papers met inclusion criteria and were utilized for data extraction. There were 33 reports of duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection. Twenty-one (64%) were from Germany. There were 60 reports of TPIAT, 53 (88%) from the USA. There are only two reports of TPIAT from outwith the USA and UK. The 34 reports of the Frey pancreaticojejunostomy originate from 12 countries. There were 20 reports of thoracoscopic splanchnotomy originating from nine countries. All three reports of the Izbicki 'V' procedure are from Germany. There is geographical variation in reporting of surgery for CP. There is a need for greater standardization in the selection and reporting of surgery for patients with painful CP.

Diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations for chronic pancreatitis. Recommendations of the Working Group of the Polish Society of Gastroenterology and the Polish Pancreas Club

This article describes the latest diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations in chronic pancreatitis, developed by the Working Group of the Polish Society of Gastroenterology and the Polish Pancreas Club. The recommendations refer to the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis, conservative management, treatment of pain, and exocrine and endocrine pancreatic insufficiency, treatment of chronic pancreatitis by endoscopic and surgical methods, and oncological surveillance of chronic pancreatitis. This paper refers to the Polish recommendations published in 2011, which have been updated and supplemented. All recommendations were voted by experts of the Polish Society of Gastroenterology and the Polish Pancreas Club, who evaluated them each time on a five-degree scale, where I meant full acceptance, II – acceptance with some reservation, III – acceptance with serious reservation, IV – rejection with some reservation and V – full rejection. The results of the voting, together with a brief commentary, have been included with each recommendation put to the vote. In addition, the expert group assessed the value of clinical studies on which the statements are based, on a scale where A means high (based on meta-analyses and randomised clinical trials), B means medium (based on clinical trials and observational studies), and C means low (based mainly on expert opinion).

Local pancreatic head resection: the search for optimal indications through quality of life assessments

BACKGROUND

Local pancreatic head resection (LPHR) for chronic pancreatitis has had limited adoption in the United States perhaps because of sparse outcomes and quality of life data.

METHODS

Forty-four patients underwent LPHR and retrospective evaluation of patient outcomes and quality of life assessment was performed.

RESULTS

The mean age was 49 ± 11 years (50% men) with chronic alcohol use as the etiology in 79% of patients. One patient (2%) died within 90 days. The intensive care unit stay was 1.8 ± 3.1 days and postoperative length of stay was 12.6 ± 9.4 days with 96% of patients discharged home. Ten (22%) patients had major perioperative complications. Biliary stricture was the most common late complication (14%). Quality of life assessment results showed that global status (47/100) and physical (66/100), cognitive (68/100), and social (52/100) functions were acceptable. Prevalent postoperative symptoms were pain (52/100), insomnia (56/100), and digestive disturbance (60/100).

CONCLUSIONS

LPHR is safe and effective for a substantial proportion of patients with chronic pancreatitis. Further refinement in the selection of patients most likely to benefit from this operation is warranted.

Functional and medical outcomes after tailored surgery for pain due to chronic pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

We measured a comprehensive set of outcome measures after different surgical procedures for painful chronic pancreatitis (CP) at long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND

Pain caused by CP can be alleviated through operative intervention with type of procedure depending on anatomical abnormalities. Outcome measures include functional (pain relief, quality of life [QoL]), medical (endo- and exocrine function), and clinical (reoperation) results reported by patient.

METHODS

A cross-sectional cohort of 223 consecutive patients who underwent surgical drainage, head resection, or left-sided pancreas resection, depending on anatomical abnormalities, was analyzed. Participating patients were reassessed during a prospectively scheduled outpatient clinic visit.

RESULTS

At follow-up, 44 patients had died; 146 of 179 living patients consented to participate in the study. After 63 months (range: 14-268), 68% reported no or little pain, 19% reported intermediate pain, and 12% reported severe pain. Preoperative daily opioid use (OR: 3.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-8.49) and high numbers of preceding endoscopic procedures (OR [odds ratio]: 3.89; 95% CI: 1.01-14.9) were associated with persistent severe pain. Compared with the general population, physical more than mental QoL remained impaired (P < 0.05). At follow-up, endocrine insufficiency was present in 57% of patients and exocrine insufficiency was present in 77%. Independently, a head resection and a reoperation for any cause were moderately associated with new-onset diabetes (P < 0.1). Compared with patients who underwent left-sided resection, the risk of developing exocrine insufficiency after surgery was higher after drainage or head resection. After 20 months (interquartile range: 10-51) after surgery, 26 (12%) of 223 patients underwent 1 or more elective reoperations.

CONCLUSIONS

Operative intervention for painful CP, tailored to anatomical abnormalities, results in excellent to fair long-term pain relief, but approximately 10% of patients do not respond. QoL scores remained slightly compromised. High preoperative pain levels, suggested through daily opioid use and high numbers of endoscopic procedures, are associated with less favorable outcome.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy versus duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis (CP).

METHODS

The 123 patients with CP who underwent pancreatic head resection between January 2004 and June 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The preoperative variables, operative data, postoperative complications, and follow-up information were examined.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in clinical and morphological characteristics, pain relief, and jaundice status between the PD and DPPHR groups. The duration of operation was shorter (251.8 [SD, 43.1] vs 324.5 [SD, 41.4] minutes, P < 0.001), blood loss was less (464.4 [SD, 203.6] vs 646.5 [SD, 242.9] mL, P < 0.001), and overall postoperative morbidity was lower (3% vs 19%, P = 0.006) in DPPHR group. The duration of hospital stay was also significantly different (9.9 [SD, 1.8] vs 13.7 [SD, 2.8] days, P < 0.001). Most functional and symptom scales revealed a better quality of life in DPPHR group. The proportion of patients with exocrine and endocrine insufficiency was higher in PD group as compared with DPPHR group.

CONCLUSIONS

Both procedures are equally effective in pain relief, but DPPHR is superior to PD in operative data, postoperative morbidity, improving quality of life, and preservation of exocrine and endocrine function.

Surgical management of patients with insulinomas: Result of 292 cases in a single institution

BACKGROUND

Insulinoma is rare tumor with an incidence of approximately four cases per million per year. There are few large sample, single-center series that focus on the surgical management strategy of insulinomas.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Medical records of patients diagnosed as insulinoma from 1990 to 2010 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical data were collected and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 328 patients were diagnosed with insulinomas; 292 of them underwent 320 operations, which included 46 laparoscopic surgeries. Tumor enucleation was the most common operative procedure. Multiple tumors were found in 30 cases; 17 cases were multiple endocrine neoplasia-1 syndrome. Thirteen patients with malignant insulinomas underwent tumor resection. Pancreatic fistula (PF) was the most frequent complication, and the incidence of clinical PFs (Grades B and C) was 14.4%. There was no significant statistical difference between open and laparoscopic surgery in blood loss, operative time, and complications. Metachronous tumors were noted in 11 patients.

CONCLUSION

Surgery is the best treatment of choice for insulinoma patients. Surgical approach depends on tumor size, location, and its pathological characters. Laparoscopic management of insulinomas is feasible and safe for tumors located in the body or tail of the pancreas. Open surgery combined with intraoperative ultrasonography is recommended to avoid omission of lesions in patients with multiple insulinomas. An aggressive surgical approach is indicated for malignant insulinoma patients.

Italian consensus guidelines for chronic pancreatitis

This paper gives practical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis. Statements have been elaborated by working teams of experts, by searching for and analysing the literature, and submitted to a consensus process by using a Delphi modified procedure. The statements report recommendations on clinical and nutritional approach, assessment of pancreatic function, treatment of exocrine pancreatic failure and of secondary diabetes, treatment of pain and prevention of painful relapses. Moreover, the role of endoscopy in approaching pancreatic pain, pancreatic stones, duct narrowing and dilation, and complications was considered. Recommendations for most appropriate use of various imaging techniques and of ultrasound endoscopy are reported. Finally, a group of recommendations are addressed to the surgical treatment, with definition of right indications, timing, most appropriate procedures and techniques in different clinical conditions and targets, and clinical and functional outcomes following surgery.

A comparison of pancreaticoduodenectomy and duodenum-preserving head resection for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

For chronic pancreatitis, European prospective trials have concluded that duodenum-preserving head resections (DPHR) are associated with less morbidity and similar pain relief and quality of life (QoL) outcomes compared with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). However, DPHR procedures are seldom performed in North America.

METHODS

Patients undergoing PD or DPHR for unremitting pain secondary to chronic pancreatitis were retrospectively identified. Quality of life was assessed cross-sectionally using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and pancreatic cancer-specific supplemental module (QLQ-PAN26).

RESULTS

Eighty-one patients underwent either a Whipple PD (n= 59) or a DPHR (Bern, Beger or Frey procedure, n= 22) for the treatment of pain caused by chronic pancreatitis over a 5-year period. The characteristics of patients undergoing DPHR and PD procedures were similar. Duration of procedure (360 min vs. 245 min), duration of hospital stay (12.0 days vs. 9.5 days) and estimated blood loss (535 ml vs. 214 ml) were all significantly less for DPHR patients (P < 0.05). Thirty-day morbidity and mortality, postoperative pain relief and QoL scores did not differ significantly between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Duodenum-preserving head resection is equally as effective as PD in relieving pain and improving QoL in chronic pancreatitis patients, and involves a shorter hospital stay and less blood loss.

Has the Partington procedure for chronic pancreatitis become a thing of the past? A review of the evidence

INTRODUCTION

For the surgical management of chronic pancreatitis with an inflammatory pancreatic head mass, extended drainage operations such as Beger and Frey procedures were established in the 1980s as an alternative to resectional procedures like pancreaticoduodenectomy and as opposed to simple drainage operations such as lateral pancreaticojejunostomy, that is, the Partington procedure. With the relatively rapid adoption of the two procedures, it seems that the Partington procedure has become a thing of the past.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Partington procedure was re-evaluated with regard to the historical aspects and its present status by a literature review.

RESULTS

The results show that this procedure relieves chronic abdominal pain in 66-91% of patients with a mean follow-up of 3.5-9.1 years. It is important to note that this procedure is generally used for inflammatory disease left of the gastroduodenal artery and is specifically not used as the procedure of choice for inflammatory disease of the pancreatic head.

CONCLUSION

For patients with a dilated main pancreatic duct but without an inflammatory pancreatic head mass, the Partington procedure is still the procedure of choice, since it is technically simple to perform with a minimum of morbidity and mortality, preserving pancreatic endocrine and exocrine function. Because it is a relatively simple technique, the laparoscopic approach will be justified as a treatment of appropriate patients in the near future.