title: Perioperative and follow-up results in chronic pancreatitis patients after pancreatic resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical therapy for chronic pancreatitis is reserved for patients with intractable abdominal pain, complications of the disease, or suspected underlying carcinoma. Pancreatic resection can be performed safety with good postoperative results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1996 and December 2009, the findings for 90 consecutive patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis were analyzed in prospective trial. Short-term results - postoperative complications were investigated 30 days after surgery. Long-term follow-up results, including quality of life (QoL) assessment using visual analog scale of pain (VAS), Karnofsky performance scale (KPS), and EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (QoL-C30) were carried out. The influence of postoperative complications on long-term quality of life was documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mortality rate and morbidity rate were 3.3% (3 patients) and 27.7% (25 patients), respectively. Surgically related morbidity rate was 21.1% (19 patients). Long-term follow-up was investigated in 65 patients (72%). The median pain score decreased using VAS from 8 to 1 and using KPS increased from 50 to 100 (p < 0.0001). During the follow-up, the median global QoL improved by 100%. Apart from the cognitive functioning, the physical status, working ability, and emotional and social functioning all improved significantly (p < 0.0001). The presence of postoperative complications had no significant influence on long-term quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery for patients with chronic pancreatitis can be performed safely with minimal morbidity and very good long-term results.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, University Hospital Košice, Košice, Slovakia. jana.katuchova@upjs.sk
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaťuchová
authors.forename: Juraj
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bober
authors.forename: Pavol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harbuľák
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radoňak
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012086:Reoperation; D015996:Survival Rate