title: Postoperative care following pancreatic surgery: surveillance and treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After pancreatic surgery, some patients have complications that require treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review article based on a selective literature search and the German S3 guideline on pancreatic carcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Detailed knowledge of the surgical procedure and its potential early and late complications is a prerequisite for the recognition and treatment of problems occurring after pancreatic surgery. These may be due either to the operation itself or to the progression of the underlying pancreatic disease. Both diabetes mellitus and exocrine insufficiency are common long-term sequelae. If persistent pain should arise, its cause must be identified and treated. To prevent malnutrition and vitamin deficiency after pancreatic resection, patients should be given a diet with an increased fat content and with supplemental enzymes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appropriate methods are available for the accurate diagnosis and, in most cases, successful treatment of complications arising after pancreatic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department für Innere Medizin, Medizinische Klinik für Gastroenterologie und Rheumatologie, Universität Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Keim
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klar
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poll
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Schoenberg
mesh_terms: D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010188:Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D059408:Pain Management; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*