Pancreas divisum: Results of surgical intervention

Abstract

The embryologic defect that results when the ventral and dorsal anlages of the pancreas do not fuse has been referred to as pancreas divisum. ERCP has made it possible to recognize this anomaly in patients undergoing investigation for otherwise unexplained abdominal pain. Of 70 patients in whom recurrent epigastric pain and pancreas divisum coexisted, sphincteroplasty of both papillae was carried out in 19 because of intractability of symptoms. In six patients, surgery was performed subsequent to failure of other biliary tract surgery. There was one postoperative death. In the remaining 18 patients, initial results were good to excellent in 13 and fair in 1. In four patients, however, recurrence of symptoms developed within periods that ranged from 1 to 6 months; therefore, reasonably permanent relief was limited to 10 patients. Of the remaining eight patients with recurrent or continuing symptoms, a variety of subsequent procedures led to satisfactory results in only three. In only seven patients was there even minimal chemical or microscopic evidence to suggest active pancreatitis. Similarly, pancreatograms in 17 patients with this anomaly revealed no abnormalities except for minor ones in 2 patients. Thus, if this is a syndrome that is due to relative stenosis of the lesser papilla and duct, the anomaly does not often result in documented pancreatitis. The definite but limited success rate from sphincteroplasty suggests that relative stenosis of the lesser papilla may be the cause of a syndrome but surgical refinements will be necessary to achieve a better operative success rate.