Chronic pancreatitis is a condition associated with widespread scarring and destruction of pancreatic tissue. This condition is mostly frequently associated with alcohol abuse and excessive smoking. The scarring and destruction of pancreatic tissue develops from inflammatory damage of the pancreas over many years due to the effects of alcohol. In many patients this condition may develop without any apparent cause. Chronic pancreatitis is a slowly progressive disease that takes many years to develop.
Patients with chronic pancreatitis are at risk for developing the following problems:
- severe chronic pain
- diabetes mellitus
- poor absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract especially fats
- cancer of the pancreas
- blockage of bile ducts
- bleeding from the stomach due to splenic vein thrombosis
Surgical operations for chronic pancreatitis offered for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases
- Peustow/Frey procedure of pancreatic duct drainage
- Laparoscopic surgery for pancreatic pseudocyst
- Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy
- Whipple surgery