Long-term outcomes of pancreato-duodenectomy for groove pancreatitis: A retrospective experience from a tertiary referral center.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Groove pancreatitis (GP) is a seldom encountered form of chronic pancreatitis characterized by inflammation of the pancreatoduodenal groove. Our study presents our experience with pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for GP at a tertiary referral center.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent PD for a preoperative diagnosis of GP at a tertiary referral center from 2010 to 2024. The primary outcomes were long-term pain relief and risks of recurrent pancreatitis, exocrine, and endocrine insufficiency. Secondary outcomes included perioperative complications.

RESULTS

During the study period, 19 patients underwent PD for GP. The median age was 45.5 years, and all patients were male. Eighty percent of the patients had a history of alcohol consumption and smoking. The median duration of symptoms was 24 months, with pain being the most prevalent symptom (94.73%). The overall complication rate (Clavien-Dindo grades 1-5) was 52.63% (10/19), and the major complication rate (Clavien-Dindo grades 3-5) was 21.05%. The median follow-up period was 67.25 months. Complete pain relief was achieved in 73.33% (11/15) of the patients, with the remaining 26.66% (4/15) experiencing partial resolution of pain. Among these, all had recurrent pancreatitis in the remnant pancreas, with ongoing alcohol consumption (n = 3) or smoking (n = 4). New-onset diabetes mellitus and steatorrhea were observed in 42.85% (6/14) and 21.42% (3/14) of patients, respectively. Furthermore, 71.42% (10/14) reported weight gain, with a median increase of 13.5 kg (range 5.00-22.75 kg).

CONCLUSIONS

PD for GP offers substantial long-term pain relief with acceptable levels of perioperative morbidity and mortality.