J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 79(9): 1040-1045, 1978

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Report on the annual meeting

RECOVERY OF SOCIAL ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH TOTAL PANCREATECTOMY

During the past 28 years, total pancreatectomy was performed on 23 patients in our clinic, of whom nine were free of recurrence of cancer. The degree of recovery of social activity in these nine patients was investigated and was compared with that in 13 treated by standard Whipple procedure. The time required for 50 per cent of those treated by total pancreatectomy and Whipple procedure to regain their ability to function socially was 18.0 and 6.0 months, respectively. Thus, a marked delay in social recovery was shown in the totally pancreatectomized patients. More than two years after the operation, however, no difference was revealed between the two groups as to degree of social and physical activity. At five years, nearly 70 per cent of either group of patients had regained normal or near-normal social functioning. The factors which restricted the early time of social recovery in the totally pancreatectomized patients were closely related to the management of diabetes mellitus (brittle type) , maldigestion and infection. Our conclusion is that totally pancreatectomized patients can attain satisfactory physical as well as social activity, if they are well managed with enough insulin, digestives and nutrients.

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