A retrospective study on surgical management of chronic pancreatitis in Chinese children

Pancreatic diseases in the children include a wide spectrum such as acute pancreatitis, acute recurrent pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic disease without pancreatitis, and the management of these diseases are quite different from those in the adults. In this study we retrospectively analyzed the pathogenesis and management of CP in 12 Chinese children (7 male and 5 female, aged 6 to 12 years old). Laboratory examinations showed that serum levels of amylase and lipase increased in all patients. Radiological examinations showed that 2 children had pancreatic duct stricture, 3 children had pancreatic atrophy, 3 children had pancreatic duct dilation with pancreaticobiliary malunion, and 4 children had pancreatic duct dilation with stones. For surgical treatment, 5 patients received longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy and 7 patients received distal pancreatectomy with Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy. All patients had good outcomes without postoperative complications. The follow-up ranged from 1.5 year to 4.5 years, and all patients had no recurrent abdominal pain. Our study suggests that individualized management for CP in the children is necessary and effective