title: Long-term follow-up of a randomized trial comparing the beger and frey procedures for patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on the long-term follow-up of a randomized clinical trial comparing pancreatic head resection according to Beger and limited pancreatic head excision combined with longitudinal pancreatico-jejunostomy according to Frey for surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Resection and drainage are the 2 basic surgical principles in surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis. They are combined to various degrees by the classic duodenum preserving pancreatic head resection (Beger) and limited pancreatic head excision combined with longitudinal pancreatico-jejunostomy (Frey). These procedures have been evaluated in a randomized controlled trial by our group. Long-term follow up has not been reported so far.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis were initially allocated to DPHR (n = 38) or LE (n = 36). This postoperative follow-up included the following parameters: mortality, quality of life (QL), pain (validated pain score), and exocrine and endocrine function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median follow-up was 104 months (72-144). Seven patients were not available for follow-up (Beger = 4; Frey = 3). There was no significant difference in late mortality (31% [8/26] versus 32% [8/25]). No significant differences were found regarding QL (global QL 66.7 [0-100] versus 58.35 [0-100]), pain score (11.25 [0-75] versus 11.25 [0-99.75]), exocrine (88% versus 78%) or endocrine insufficiency (56% versus 60%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After almost 9 years' long-term follow-up, there was no difference regarding mortality, quality of life, pain, or exocrine or endocrine insufficiency within the 2 groups. The decision which procedure to choose should be based on the surgeon's experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strate
authors.forename: Zohre
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Taherpour
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bloechle
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Jens P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bruhn
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuechler
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yekebas
authors.forename: Jakob R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Izbicki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010186:Pancreatic Function Tests; D010193:Pancreaticojejunostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome