title: Local pancreatic head resection: the search for optimal indications through quality of life assessments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Local pancreatic head resection (LPHR) for chronic pancreatitis has had limited adoption in the United States perhaps because of sparse outcomes and quality of life data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients underwent LPHR and retrospective evaluation of patient outcomes and quality of life assessment was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 49 ± 11 years (50% men) with chronic alcohol use as the etiology in 79% of patients. One patient (2%) died within 90 days. The intensive care unit stay was 1.8 ± 3.1 days and postoperative length of stay was 12.6 ± 9.4 days with 96% of patients discharged home. Ten (22%) patients had major perioperative complications. Biliary stricture was the most common late complication (14%). Quality of life assessment results showed that global status (47/100) and physical (66/100), cognitive (68/100), and social (52/100) functions were acceptable. Prevalent postoperative symptoms were pain (52/100), insomnia (56/100), and digestive disturbance (60/100).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LPHR is safe and effective for a substantial proportion of patients with chronic pancreatitis. Further refinement in the selection of patients most likely to benefit from this operation is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Trevan D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gutman
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jose G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Trevino
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: Kevin.Behrns@surgery.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Kevin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Behrns
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000601:surgery*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Chronic pancreatitis; Local pancreatic head resection; Quality of life