Duodenum-preserving Pancreatic Head Resection Research Articles

Surgical treatment and long-term follow-up in chronic pancreatitis

In the past two decades our knowledge of the pathophysiology and surgical treatment options in chronic pancreatitis have improved substantially. Surgical treatment in chronic pancreatitis has evolved from radical to organ-preserving procedures. The classic Whipple resection is no longer indicated in chronic pancreatitis, and operations like the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection and the pylorus-preserving Whipple have replaced it as surgical standards. These procedures allow the preservation of exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function, provide pain relief in up to 90% of patients, and contribute to an improvement in the quality of life.

Pancreatic leakage after pancreas resection. An analysis of 345 operated patients

Complications after pancreatic resections remain frequent despite a decreasing mortality. Pancreatic leakages represent a relevant part of those complications but data on risk factors for their occurrence are rare. We analyzed our experience with incidence, clinical course, and risk factors of pancreatic leakage in a large patient group. We analyzed the prospectively documented perioperative data of 345 patients with pancreatic resections carried out between 1994 and 2001. Main indications for surgery were chronic pancreatitis (57%) and malignant tumors (37%). The following operations were performed: Whipple's operation 15%, pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy 53%, duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection 19%, and distal pancreatic resection 13%. Risk factors were analyzed using uni- and multivariate methods. Postoperative mortality and complication rate were 2.9% and 41%, respectively. A pancreatic leakage occurred in 9.9%. In the majority of patients, pancreatic leakage was asymptomatic and controlled by prolonged drainage. However, one fourth of the patients with pancreatic leakage required reoperation. The mortality of pancreatic leakage was 12%. No patient with chronic pancreatitis died as a consequence of pancreatic leakage. Impaired preoperative renal function was the only risk factor for the occurrence of postoperative pancreatic leakage. Although easily managed in the majority of cases, pancreatic leakage still represents a relevant postoperative complication after pancreatic resection, especially in patients with malignant disease. Because of an increased risk of developing pancreatic leakage, an impaired renal function should be considered specifically in the perioperative management of the patients.

Quality of Life in Chronic Pancreatitis: A Prospective Trial Comparing Classical Whipple Procedure and Duodenum-Preserving Pancreatic Head Resection

Few data are available with respect to quality of life after pancreatic head resection in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to compare the classical Whipple pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) with the Beger duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR), in terms of quality of life, using standardized, valid, and reliable questionnaires. Sixty-five consecutive patients were included in this study. The PD procedure was chosen when pancreatic cancer could not be ruled out (n = 30); otherwise DPPHR was performed (n = 35). Quality of life was measured prospectively three times with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and the Gastrointestinal Quality-of-Life Index (GIQLI). Both procedures led to a significant improvement in quality of life, especially with regard to pain status. However, at the second follow-up examination (18 to 24 months postoperatively), all functional scales and the most important symptom scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 revealed a better quality of life in the DPPHR group compared to the PD group. After classical PD, more patients seem to develop diabetes mellitus. The EORTC QLQ-C30 was found to be a better tool for quality-of-life assessment than the GIQLI in patients with chronic pancreatitis. ( J Gastrointest Surg 2002;6:173–180.)

Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection leads to relief of common bile duct stenosis

Background: Common bile duct stenosis (CBDS) is one of the most frequent complications in chronic pancreatitis with inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas (IMH) Methods: A total of 474 patients who underwent duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) between 1982 and 1998 were reevaluated; 219 patients (46%) with a mean duration of the disease of 45 months had a radiologically proven CBDS. Results: One patient (0.5%) died of septic complications in the early postoperative course, 15 patients (6.8%) had to be reoperated on for complications. A follow-up investigation of 143 patients (92%) revealed a late mortality of 12%; no patient died of biliary complications. Seventy-five percent of the patients were completely free of pain, and 85% of the patients had a constant or even increasing body weight. Conclusions: The high percentage of pain-free patients with improved physical status and economical rehabilitation demonstrates the improvement of the quality of life after DPPHR for complicated chronic pancreatitis.

Pancreatic resection: effects on glucose metabolism.

Pancreatic resection results in hormonal abnormalities that are dependent on the extent and location (proximal versus distal) of the resected portion of the gland. The form of glucose intolerance which results from pancreatic resection is termed pancreatogenic diabetes. It is associated with features distinct from both type I (insulin-dependent) and type II (insulin-independent, or adult-onset) diabetes. Hepatic insulin resistance with persistent endogenous glucose production and enhanced peripheral insulin sensitivity result in a brittle form of diabetes which can be difficult to manage. In addition to insulin deficiency, the endocrine abnormalities that accompany pancreatic resection can include glucagon deficiency or pancreatic polypeptide (PP) deficiency if the resection is distal or proximal, respectively. Glucagon deficiency can contribute to iatrogenic hypoglycemia, and PP deficiency can contribute to persistent hyperglycemia due to impaired hepatic insulin action. Pancreatic resections that spare the duodenum, such as distal pancreatectomy, duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (Beger procedure), or extended lateral pancreaticojejunostomy with excavation of the pancreatic head (Frey procedure), are associated with a lower incidence of new or worsened diabetes than the standard or pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) or total pancreatectomy. Operative considerations for the treatment of pancreatic disease should include strategies to minimize the hormonal impairment of pancreatic resection.

Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection: future standard operation in chronic pancreatitis.

As the incidence of chronic pancreatitis (CP) has risen in most industrialized countries due to increasing alcohol intake, operative therapy has gained importance, and various new operative procedures have been introduced in the past two or three decades. With pancreatic duct drainage operations, pain relief is frequently not satisfactory in long-term follow-up. Pathological studies in combination with modern molecular biology investigations, suggests that the pancreatic head is the "pacemaker" of the disease in most CP patients. Therefore, surgical procedures which aim to remove pancreatic head-related CP complications are needed in most patients. The Whipple operation, which was originally developed to treat malignancies in the pancreatic head region, follows oncological criteria and can therefore be considered surgical overtreatment in the majority of CP patients. As an alternative, the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) was introduced by Hans Beger in 1972 to preserve the stomach, the extrahepatic bile duct and the duodenum. DPPHR is an organ-preserving surgical procedure which provides satisfactory long-term results with regard to mortality, morbidity, pain relief, weight gain and social and professional rehabilitation. Among the operations currently available, DPPHR is the best choice for a new standard operation in patients with pancreatic head-related complications.

Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) in chronic pancreatitis: its rationale and results.

Persistent, uncontrolled pain is the most common indication for surgery in chronic pancreatitis. In the presence of an inflammatory mass in the pancreatic head or in pancreatic head-related complications of chronic pancreatitis, resection procedures are inevitable. The Whipple procedure, originally introduced for malignant lesions of the periampullary region, is commonly employed, although it represents surgical over-treatment in a benign pancreatic disorder. In this article, we discuss our long experience with duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (Beger procedure) for chronic pancreatitis. Prospective, randomized controlled trials suggest that this organ- and function-preserving procedure should be the gold standard for the surgical treatment of pancreatic head-related complications of chronic pancreatitis.

Endosonography-guided, fine-needle aspiration cytology extending the indication for organ-preserving pancreatic surgery

OBJECTIVE: Organ preserving pancreatic resections are considered whenever malignant disease is ruled out. In tumors of low malignant potential such as cystadenomas and neuroendocrine tumors, the diagnosis is rarely established preoperatively. We studied the feasibility of cytodiagnosis using endosonography-guided fine-needle aspiration in determining the operative approach. METHODS: A total of 78 patients (16 female, 62 male; mean age 61.4 yr, range 31–82 yr) with focal pancreatic lesions underwent EUS-FNA. Final diagnosis was confirmed by histology, cytology, or clinical follow up (>9 months). Patients with tumors of low malignant potential were managed by customized pancreatic resections. RESULTS: Final diagnosis was malignant tumors in 36 patients, tumors of low malignant potential in nine (six, neuroendocrine, two, borderline mucinous cystadenomas, one, borderline adenocarcinoma), and benign in 31 (two inadequate smears). No complications occurred. With six false-negative and no false-positive results, the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 92%, 84%, 100%, 100%, and 86%, respectively. Five patients with low malignant tumors underwent duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection, three mid segment resection, and one pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA is useful in the preoperative cytodiagnosis of pancreatic tumors of low malignant potential. It extends the indication for organ-preserving pancreatic resections and avoids the unnecessary sacrifice of adjacent organs.

Pancreatic fistula after pancreatic head resection.

Pancreatic resections can be performed with great safety. However, the morbidity rate is reported to be 40-60 per cent with a high prevalence of pancreatic complications. The aim of this study was to analyse complications after pancreatic head resection, with particular attention to morbidity and pancreatic fistula. From November 1993 to May 1999, perioperative and postoperative data from 331 consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic head resection were recorded prospectively. Data were analysed and grouped according to the procedure performed: classic Whipple resection, pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) or duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR). Pancreatic head resection had a mortality rate of 2.1 per cent; the difference in mortality rate between the three groups (0.9-3.0 per cent) was not significant. Total and local morbidity rates were 38.4 and 28 per cent respectively. DPPHR had a lower morbidity, both local and systemic, than pancreatoduodenectomy. The prevalence of pancreatic fistula was 2.1 per cent in 331 patients, and was not dependent on the procedure or the aetiology of the disease. Reoperations were performed in 3.9 per cent of patients, predominantly for bleeding and non-pancreatic fistula. None of the patients with pancreatic fistula required reoperation or died in the postoperative course. A standardized technique and a continuing effort to improve perioperative management may be responsible for low mortality and surgical morbidity rates after pancreatic head resection. Pancreatic complications occur with Whipple, PPPD and DPPHR procedures with a similar prevalence. Pancreatic fistula no longer seems to be a major problem after pancreatic head resection and rarely necessitates surgical treatment.

Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection in patients with benign and borderline tumors of the pancreatic head.

Benign tumors of the pancreas are rare, accounting for only 1-2% of primary pancreatic lesions. Up to now, partial duodenopancreatectomy is still one of the established forms of treatment of benign tumors of the pancreas. We applied duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection in 12 patients with benign pancreatic tumors to evaluate the feasibility, morbidity and recurrence rates after this less aggressive method. Between April 1984 and December 1999, 12 patients with benign and borderline tumors of the pancreatic head were operated on by duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection. All five patients with serous cystadenoma are free of recurrence 4.4 years after primary resection. One of two patients with mucinous cystadenoma and one of three patients with intraductal papillary mucinous tumor developed recurrent tumor within the former pancreatic head 5 years and 6 years, respectively, after the primary operation. Both patients were resected a second time. One of two patients with gastrinoma still has elevated serum gastrin levels. There was no hospital or long-term mortality. For a symptomatic serous cystadenoma, duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection is a good alternative to partial duodenopancreatectomy. In borderline tumors with malignant potential, we would rather suggest a more radical duodenum-preserving segmental resection. A video clip (3 min) is attached demonstrating the basic steps of duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection.

Duodenum-preserving head resection in chronic pancreatitis changes the natural course of the disease: a single-center 26-year experience.

To present preoperative and early postoperative data for 504 patients who underwent duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) for severe chronic pancreatitis (CP). The pancreatic head is considered to be the pacemaker of the disease in alcohol-induced CP. Indications for surgery in CP are intractable pain and local complications. DPPHR offers the advantage of treating the complications related to the inflammatory process in the head, relieving the pain syndrome, and preserving the bilioduodenal anatomy, and it may have the potential to change the natural course of chronic pancreatitis. Between November 1972 and December 1998, 504 patients with chronic pancreatitis and an inflammatory mass in the pancreatic head were treated surgically after medical pain treatment for a median of 3.6 years. The procedure resulted in a hospital mortality rate of 0.8%. A continuous follow-up investigation lasting up to 26 years was conducted, during which the patients were reevaluated four times (1983, 1987, 1994, 1996). Between November 1982 and October 1996, 388 patients treated surgically were reinvestigated to evaluate the late outcome; the follow-up rate was 94% (25 patients were lost to follow-up). The reinvestigation evaluation included glucose tolerance test, exocrine pancreatic function test, pain status, physical status, professional and social rehabilitation, and quality of life. After an observation period of up to 14 years, 78.8% of the patients were completely pain-free and 12.5% had (yearly) pain. 91.3% were considered as pain-free; 8.7% had continuing abdominal pain; 12% had abdominal complaints. During the 14 years of follow-up, only 9% were admitted to the hospital for acute episodes of chronic pancreatitis. Endocrine function was improved in 11%; in 21%, diabetes developed de novo. The rate of hospital admission for acute episodes decreased from 69% before surgery to 9% after surgery. In the clinical management period of 9 years (median), the frequency of hospital admission dropped from 5.4 per patient before surgery to 2.7 after surgery. Fourteen years after surgery, 69% of the patients were professionally rehabilitated; in 72%, the quality of life index (Karnofsky criteria) was 90 to 100 and in 18%, it was <80. In patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis in whom an inflammatory mass has developed in the pancreatic head, DPPHR results in a change in the natural course of the disease in terms of pain status, frequency of acute episodes, need for further hospital admission, late death, and quality of life.

Cholecystokinin secretion in patients with chronic pancreatitis and after different types of pancreatic surgery.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) secretion may be affected in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), but little is known on the effect of pancreatic surgery on CCK secretion. We measured CCK secretion (radioimmunoassay, RIA) in response to bombesin infusion (100 ng/kg/20 min) for 120 min to test CCK secretory capacity, to ingestion of a liquid diet (400 kcal) for 120 min, and in response to a solid fat-rich meal (500 kcal) for 120 min. These studies were performed in 45 patients with CP (25 with exocrine insufficiency), 15 patients after duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPRHP), 18 patients after the Whipple operation, 12 patients after distal pancreatectomy (DP), and 35 control subjects. In CP patients, the CCK secretory capacity was preserved, but the postprandial CCK response was reduced, depending on meal composition and the presence of exocrine insufficiency. In patients after Whipple's operation, CCK secretory capacity and postprandial CCK secretion were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced. In patients after DPRHP, CCK secretory capacity was not affected, but the postprandial CCK response was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced, depending on meal composition and the presence of exocrine insufficiency. In patients after DPRHP, fasting plasma CCK levels were significantly (p < 0.01) increased, pointing to the absence of feedback inhibition on CCK secretion by intraluminal enzymes. After DP, the CCK secretory capacity was not affected. alterations in CCK secretion are observed in patients with chronic pancreatitis and after pancreatic surgery. These alterations are related not only to the disease process (exocrine insufficiency) but also to the type of surgery and type of stimulus.

Vascular anatomy of the pancreaticoduodenal region: A review.

Vascular anatomy of the pancreaticoduodenal region has been the subject of numerous studies. However, several essential areas of confusion remain in interpretation of the vascular configuration. We note and discuss three key points in relation to this confusion: (1) a missing vascular arcade, (2) a rearrangement of the arcade by collateral and/or transverse vessels, and (3) a solitary vessel without an accompanying comites vein or artery. In addition, we consider that different interpretations as well as varying reported incidences depend on different "thresholds" when observations are made. Consideration of new aspects of vascular anatomy of the pancreaticoduodenal region is required for further improvement of surgical procedures. In terms of the selection of lymph node resection procedure, we discuss mainly the inferior arterial origin. Special attention should be paid to the ligation of inferior arteries because of the high incidence of the common trunk formation of the upper jejunal and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries. With regard to duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection for benign tumors, our observations are introduced in view of either arterial or venous configuration. First, a communicating artery between the anterior and posterior arterial arcades is noted because of its possible critical role in blood supply to the papilla of Vater. Second, a venous drainage route from the duodenum to the retroperitoneal space in "normal" specimens is described.

Cholestase bei chronischer Pankreatitis: Ergebnisse der modifizierten duodenumerhaltenden Pankreaskopfresektion

The stenosis of the common bile duct is the most frequent complication in patients with chronic pancreatitis and inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas. The clinical course is characterized by abdominal pain and recurrent cholestasis or jaundice. The endoscopic procedures such as papillotomy or stenting are not able to treat the morphologically enlarged pancreatic head and led to disappointing results so far. In our department, 380 patients with chronic pancreatitis were treated with the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection. 47% of the patients showed a common bile duct stenosis preoperatively, which could be treated either by decompression or by internal drainage of the common bile duct into the jejunal loop. Beside a normalization of the cholestasis, the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection leads to a high rate of pain-free patients and a preservation of the endocrine function in the majority of the patients and should be the procedure of choice in this group of patients.

Risk analysis of pancreatic fistula after pancreatic head resection.

To evaluate the risk factors for pancreatic fistula after pancreatic head resection. Retrospective review. University hospital, in the 71-month period from January 1992 through November 1997. Sixty-two patients who underwent pancreatic head resection with pancreatojejunostomy. We performed an extensive analysis of preoperative and perioperative risk factors for pancreatic fistula. Pancreatic fistula was defined as high amylase level (> 1000 U/L) in the drainage fluid collected from the peripancreatic drains and/or anastomotic disruption demonstrated radiographically. Nine (15%) of the 62 patients developed pancreatic fistula, and 1 (1.6%) died of intra-abdominal hemorrhage related to the pancreatic fistula. A preoperative normal N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-p-aminobenzoic acid test result (P=.01), soft or intermediate pancreatic consistency (P=.04), duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection for the normal exocrine pancreas (P=.002), and a larger amount of postoperative pancreatic juice output (P=.02) were significant risk factors for pancreatic fistula formation. Careful attention should be paid to the preoperative exocrine pancreatic function, pancreatic consistency at surgery, and postoperative pancreatic juice output to predict and prevent pancreatic fistula after pancreatic head resection.

Duodenum-preserving resection of the pancreas head in treatment of benign tumors of the pancreas head

Benign tumors of the pancreatic head are normally treated by a partial duodenopancreatectomy. This operation has been developed for the treatment of malignant alterations in the pancreatic head and includes resection of the gastric bowel, duodenum and common bile duct. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the less radical duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection is a suitable surgical procedure in the treatment of benign pancreatic head tumors. From May 1982 to December 1996, seven patients underwent surgical treatment for benign pancreatic head tumors. Two patients suffered from gastrinoma of the pancreatic head, four exhibited a serous or mucinous cystadenoma, and one patient suffered from an intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor in this region. All patients were treated by duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection. The operation was easily performed with little blood loss and a low rate of complications. None of the patients had to be reoperated upon due to postoperative surgical complications. After a follow-up period of a median 3 years, six of seven patients were had no recurrence of the disease and were symptom-free. One patient who had initially been operated on for gastrinoma still exhibited high gastrin values postoperatively. The endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function was not impaired in the early and late postoperative phase as compared to the preoperative assessment. From our results, it is concluded that duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection is an adequately radical, yet organ-preserving procedure for the treatment of benign tumors of the pancreatic head without compromising endocrine and exocrine function.

Problems in the diagnosis and treatment of a so-called mucin-producing tumor of the pancreas.

Reports of a so-called "mucin-producing tumor of the pancreas" are increasing worldwide. Although the clinicopathologic features and therapeutic strategies of this tumor have been enthusiastically investigated, there are still many unanswered questions regarding this ailment. In this study, problems in the diagnosis and treatment of mucin-producing tumor were analyzed, based on the 259 reported cases of this tumor. The overall 5-year survival rate for resected cases is 83%, which is much higher than that for ordinary duct cell carcinoma (17.3%). However, the 5-year survival rate for carcinoma cases with infiltration into other organs is 28%, which is much lower than those for carcinoma cases without infiltration (86%) and carcinoma cases with infiltration that remained within the pancreatic parenchyma (74%). These results demonstrate that patients with this tumor have a poor prognosis if the tumor infiltrates other organs. In addition, when the spread of the tumor is >6 cm, the prognosis is significantly worse than when the tumor has a spread of <6 cm. The significance of using the presence of K-ras mutation in the pancreatic juice for diagnosis of this tumor and problems of duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection are discussed.

Effect of duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas on endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function in patients with chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis leads to progressive destruction of pancreatic parenchyma affecting exocrine and endocrine function. We prospectively evaluated the effect of duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas on pancreatic function. Exocrine and endocrine function were measured in a combined test including (1) urinary PABA recovery; (2) plasma glucose, glucagon, and C-peptide responses; and (3) plasma pancreatic polypeptide response. Nineteen patients were included. Compared with the preoperative state, plasma glucose levels did not increase postoperatively. Plasma C-peptide levels were reduced postoperatively but the difference was not significant. The percentage of insulin-dependent patients did not increase after operation (32% versus 32%). Glucose tolerance improved in 4 patients and deteriorated in 3 patients. Postoperative basal and-meal stimulated plasma pancreatic polypeptide levels were significantly reduced. Postoperative urinary PABA recovery was not significantly different from preoperative values. Neither exocrine nor endocrine pancreatic function are negatively influenced by duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection.

Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection--a standard method in chronic pancreatitis

In patients with chronic pancreatitis the inflammatory process in the pancreatic head is frequently the pacemaker of the disease. In these cases an inflammatory tumor develops which leads to local complications in half of the patients. Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection, contrary to procedures used in the past, offers the possibility to preserve stomach, duodenum, biliary tree, and the insulin secretory capacity. Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection is a subtotal resection of the pancreatic head. In a series of 380 patients the hospital mortality rate was 0.8%, the frequency of reoperation 5.3%, and the median hospitalisation time 13.9 days. The early postoperative glucose metabolism was deteriorated in 2% and improved in 9% of cases. After a median follow-up time of 6 years, 88% of the patients were completely painfree or suffered pain rarely. Sixty-three percent were gainfully employed; the late mortality was 8.9%. Only 10% of the patients had further bouts of pancreatitis. The decisive advantage of duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection over Kausch-Whipple resection is preservation of the endocrine pancreatic function and of neighbouring organs.

Gastric emptying following pylorus-preserving whipple and duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection in patients with chronic pancreatitis

After pylorus-preserving Whipple (PPW), delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is reported in up to 50% of these patients. We analyzed gastric emptying and hormonal adaptation of cholecystokinin (CCK), pancreatic polypeptide (PP), and gastrin following two surgical procedures for chronic pancreatitis (CP): the PPW and the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR). Ten patients underwent DPPHR and 10 underwent PPW for CP. Preoperatively and 10 days and 6 months postoperatively, gastric emptying (paracetamol absorption test) and CCK, gastrin, and PP were measured using a test meal stimulation. The area under the serum paracetamol time curve for 0 to 120 minutes (AUC) showed no preoperative difference. Ten days postoperatively, the AUC was significantly reduced (P <0.05) after PPW but not after DPPHR. Six months postoperatively, AUC was comparable with the preoperative findings in DPPHR and PPW. The integrated 180-minute PP release was significantly reduced 10 days and 6 months postoperatively in both groups. The integrated 180-minute CCK release was decreased 10 days after PPW, but failed to be significant (P = 0.053). Gastrin levels were postoperatively unchanged. Following DPPHR we found no delay in gastric emptying. In contrast, DGE occurs early after PPW. Our data may help explain the slower recovery in PPW patients with regard to weight gain and relief from pain, which may be due to the functional alteration of gastric emptying and motility after this type of surgery.