Background: In chronic pancreatitis, compression of the splenic vein and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) by an inflammatory mass may cause segmental portal hypertension. Drainage and resection are the principles of surgery for chronic pancreatitis. This study was devised to evaluate the effect of drainage and resection on venous splanchnic blood flow in patients with non-occlusive segmental portal hypertension.
Methods: In 14 of 30 patients with chronic pancreatitis predominantly involving the pancreatic head, segmental portal hypertension due to compression of the splenic vein and SMV was detected by means of indirect splenomesentericoportography and Doppler ultrasonography. None of these 14 patients had symptomatic gastric fundic varices. They were allocated randomly to surgical drainage or resection. Median follow-up was 30 (range 12-48) months.
Results: In the resection group, mean(s.d.) splenic vein blood flow increased from 316(46) ml/min before operation to 396(57) ml/min at follow-up (P < 0.01). In the drainage group, preoperative splenic vein blood flow (318(37) ml/min) was not increased after operation (322(37) ml/min). Mean(s.d.) SMV flow increased from 292(42) ml/min before operation to 436(64) ml/min at follow-up (P < 0.01) in the resection group. In the drainage group mean(s.d.) SMV blood flow was 296(32) ml/min before operation and 314(34) ml/min at follow-up. No patient developed fundic gastric varices during follow-up.
Conclusion: In non-occlusive segmental portal hypertension due to chronic pancreatitis, resection, but not drainage, restores normal venous splanchnic blood flow.