Tailored resective pancreatic surgery for pediatric patients with chronic pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND
Surgical treatment for chronic pancreatitis (CP) in children comprises predominantly nonresective draining procedures. The purpose of this study was to identify indications, techniques, and results of organ-preserving resective pancreatic procedures for pediatric CP at our institution.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was performed of all children undergoing pancreatic surgery for CP over a period of 4 years.


RESULTS
Overall, 6 pediatric patients (3 male, 3 female, ages 7-18 years) underwent a duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (3), a middle segmental pancreatic resection (2), or a distal pancreatectomy (1) for CP of different etiologies (idiopathic 2, posttraumatic 2, pancreas divisum 1, situs inversus 1). No mortality or major surgical complication occurred. Mean operative time was 294 min (207-412 min) and intraoperative blood loss was 541 mL (100-1300 mL). Postoperative hospital stay was 13 days (10-18 days). No endocrine or exocrine insufficiency occurred during follow up of 46 months (25-50 m), and pain control was improved in 5 of 6 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Tailored organ-preserving resective pancreatic surgery can be performed with low morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients with CP and not responding to conservative treatment.
Chromik
Ansgar M
AM
Department of Visceral and General Surgery, Pancreas Center, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, D-44791 Bochum, Germany.
Seelig
Matthias H
MH
Saewe
Benjamin
B
Müller
Christophe A
CA
Weyhe
Dirk
D
Felderbauer
Peter
P
Mittelkötter
Ulrich
U
Tannapfel
Andrea
A
Schmidt-Choudhury
Anjona
A
Uhl
Waldemar
W
D000293:Adolescent; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome