Surgery for chronic pancreatitis. Drainage versus resection.

A retrospective study of 49 patients with chronic obstructive and chronic calcific pancreatitis is presented. All patients were operated upon and underwent either a partial pancreatectomy or internal drainage of the ductal system into a Roux-en-Y loop of jejunum. The criteria for selection of operation are discussed, and the follow-up of the two operative groups is given. In patients selected as described, internal drainage provided better relief of pain and was accomplished with a lower operative mortality and morbidity and with less postoperative pancreatic insufficiency.