Affiliation:
1. From the Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Abstract
Background Management of pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis can be frustrating. The authors retrospectively evaluated their experience with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for pain secondary to chronic pancreatitis. Methods From September 1999 to August 2004, 16 patients underwent VATS for pain associated with chronic pancreatitis. Data were collected retrospectively. Results Eight patients were female and 8 were male. Their ages ranged from 17 to 81 years, with a mean age of 40 years. There were 22 VATS splanchnicectomies performed: 7 right, 10 left, and 5 bilateral. The average operative time was 75 minutes for right VATS splanchnicectomy, 86 minutes for left VATS splanchnicectomy, and 88 minutes for bilateral VATS splanchnicectomies. The average length of stay (LOS) was 2.6 days after right VATS splanchnicectomy, 2.2 days after left VATS splanchnicectomy, and 1 day after bilateral VATS splanchnicectomies. Two cases were nonelective and not included in the determination of LOS. No postoperative complications occurred in any of the patients admitted for elective operations. Postoperative mortality was zero. Complete resolution of pain occurred in 4 patients (25%): 1 right splanchnicectomy, 1 left splanchnicectomy, and 2 bilateral splanchnicectomies. Total pancreatectomy with islet cell transplant was subsequently performed in 5 patients (31%), who improved but then had recurrent pain. Continued chronic pain managed with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and narcotic analgesics was the result in 7 patients (44%) Conclusions Video-assisted thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy surgery may alleviate pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis. It can be performed with minimal morbidity and mortality, and has been safe and useful in the workup, evaluation, and management of pain associated with chronic pancreatitis.
Subject
Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine,General Medicine,Surgery,Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Cited by
3 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献