Pancreatic islet autotransplantation with total pancreatectomy for chronic pancreatitis.

Achieving pain relief and improving the quality of life are the main targets of treatment for patients with chronic pancreatitis. The use of total pancreatectomy to treat chronic pancreatitis is a radical and in some ways ideal strategy. However, total pancreatectomy is associated with severe diabetic control problems. Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation can relieve severe pain and prevent the development of postsurgical diabetes. With islet autotransplantation, patients with chronic pancreatitis receive their own islet cells and therefore do not require immunosuppressive therapy. In the future, total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation may be considered a treatment option for chronic pancreatitis patients.