title: Surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis using Frey's procedure: a Brazilian 16-year single-centre experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis is indicated for intractable pain. Frey's procedure is an accepted treatment for this disease. The aim of the present study was to describe a single-centre experience in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis using Frey's procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 73 patients who underwent a Frey's procedure between 1991 to 2007 and had at least 1 year of follow-up. Demographics, indication for surgery, peri-operative complications and late outcomes were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age was 39.9 years. Seventy out of the 73 (95.8%) patients were male. The median pre-operative body mass index (BMI) was 19.1 kg/m(2). All patients had abdominal pain, 34 (46.6%) of them daily and 13 (17.8%) weekly, with moderate or severe intensity in 98.6% (n= 72). The aetiology was secondary to alcohol in 70 patients (95.9%), with a median consumption of 278 g per day. The surgical morbidity rate was 28.7%; there were no deaths. Median post-operative follow-up was 77.0 months; 64 patients (91.4%) had complete pain relief and post-operative BMI was 22.4 kg/m(2) (P<0.001). All patients with pre-operative endocrine and exocrine insufficiencies showed no reversal of the situation. New onset insufficiencies appeared late.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frey's procedure was a safe and effective therapeutic option for the surgical treatment of patients with intractable pain caused by chronic pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. mgestic@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Martinho Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gestic
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Callejas-Neto
authors.forename: Elinton Adami
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Chaim
authors.forename: Murillo Pimentel
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Utrini
authors.forename: Everton
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cazzo
authors.forename: Jose Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pareja
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010193:Pancreaticojejunostomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult