Extent of pancreatic fibrosis as a determinant of symptom resolution after the Frey procedure: a clinico-pathologic analysis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of histopathologic features of chronic pancreatitis and pain relief after the Frey procedure.

DESIGN

We retrospectively analyzed 35 patients who underwent the Frey procedure for chronic pancreatitis over a 5-year period (November 2005 to February 2011).

SETTING

Thirty-five patients with varied etiologies of chronic pancreatitis and persistent symptoms were referred to a multi-disciplinary pancreatitis clinic where a consensus decision to recommend surgery was established. The Frey procedure was then performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We compared symptomatic outcomes with the degree of pancreatic fibrosis, duct dilatation, and presence of pancreatic duct stones based on a blinded evaluation of resected pancreatic tissue.

RESULTS

Symptom resolution was associated with severe or extensive (>75 %) fibrosis and absence of symptom resolution was associated with mild or minimal (<25 %) fibrosis (chi-squared, p value < 0.05). Symptom resolution was associated with pancreatic duct >4 mm and absence of symptom resolution was associated with pancreatic duct ≤4 mm (chi-squared, p value < 0.05). There was no difference in outcomes for patients with and without pancreatic duct stones.

CONCLUSION

Symptom resolution after the Frey procedure is more likely in the setting of severe or extensive fibrosis due to chronic pancreatitis.