Introduction: Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection is a safe procedure with a more favorable short-term outcome compared to pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, some patients develop mechanical complications or suspicion of malignancy during follow-up and need reoperation years after primary surgery. Aim of this study was to evaluate incidence, techniques, and complication rates of redo operations.
Materials and methods: We reviewed short- and long-term outcomes of 33 patients who underwent duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection for chronic pancreatitis from 1997 to 2010 at our department from a prospective database.
Results: Short-term outcome after duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection was comparable with previous data. Follow-up (mean 89 months) was achieved for 26 patients. Eight patients (30.1 %) needed a redo operation of which seven were performed. Indications were obstructive jaundice (four patients) and suspicion of cancer of pancreatic head (four patients; carcinoma confirmed in three patients). Mean interval between initial and redo operation was seven years for benign stenoses and 4 years for cancer. Three of seven operated patients needed revision.
Conclusion: Need for redo operations after duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection is high and these operations have high complication rates. In most cases, redo operations can be avoided by performing pancreaticoduodenectomy as initial operation.