[Duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis].

In patients with chronic pancreatitis the duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas aims at the removal of the inflammatorily enlarged head of the pancreas with preservation of stomach, duodenum, and bile duct. In 105 patients with chronic pancreatitis the hospital mortality after duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas was 0.95% and the late mortality over a period of 14 years amounted to 5.8%. This surgical procedure leads to lasting freedom of pain in more than 80% of the patients and decompresses the pancreas and its neighbouring organs without major impairment of other organs.