Perioperative and follow-up results after central pancreatic head resection (Berne technique) in a consecutive series of patients with chronic pancreatitis

Background: Many patients require surgery for chronic pancreatitis (CP). By combining the essences of the Beger and the Frey procedures, a hybrid procedure was developed: central pancreatic-head resection (CPHR) (Berne technique). Methods: A prospective evaluation of 100 consecutive patients who underwent CPHR for CP between January 2002 and December 2006 was performed. Long-term follow-up, including quality-of-life (QOL) assessment, was carried out. Results: The hospital mortality rate was 1%; the surgical morbidity rate was 16%; and the relaparotomy rate was 6%. Mean surgery time was 295 ± 7 minutes; mean intraoperative blood loss was 763 ± 75 mL; and the mean postsurgical hospital stay was 11.4 ± .8 days. After a median follow-up of 41 months, pain was improved in 55% of patients; weight increase occurred in 67% of patients; and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus developed in 22% of the patients. Comparison of QOL parameters with a German adult control population showed no statistically significant differences. Conclusions: CPHR is a safe surgical option to resolve CP-associated problems. Long-term follow-up QOL after CPHR shows results comparable with date published data after the Beger and the Frey procedures.