Proximal pancreatectomy in the surgical management of chronic pancreatitis.

During the past three decades, important advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic pancreatitis (CP), improved results of major pancreatic resections (including pancreatoduodenectomy), and integration of sophisticated diagnostic methods in clinical practice resulted in significant changes in our surgical approach to CP. Proximal pancreatectomy (including the pancreatoduodenectomy and the newer duodenum-preserving and common bile duct-preserving Beger and Frey procedures) achieved good results concerning pain relief (>80%) and quality of life in selected patients with head-dominant CP. Beger and Frey procedures were associated with lower early and late mortality and morbidity. However, when there is strong suspicion of an underlying malignancy, a pancreatoduodenectomy should be considered in surgically fit patients, as this is an adequate procedure for both CP and pancreatic cancer.