Simplified technique in total pancreatectomy with islet cell autotransplantation after Frey's procedure: a case report

BackgroundThe selection of the surgical approach for chronic pancreatitis (CP) is determined by various factors including inflammatory location, presence of pancreatic duct dilatation, or possibility of cancer. Total pancreatectomy (TP), with or without islet cell autotransplantation, is considered for patients with refractory CP after the failure of other surgical treatments. Considering the increasing incidence of CP requiring surgical treatment, the number of cases in which TP is performed after previous surgical treatment is expected to increase.Case presentationWe reported a case of TPIAT in a patient with alcoholic CP who had previously undergone Frey's procedure. During the operation, the sufficient length of the elevated jejunal loop for pancreaticojejunostomy in Frey's procedure allowed it to be used directly for biliary jejunostomy during TP. In addition, jejunojejunostomy from the previous operation could be used, and these methods contributed to simplifying the operative procedure. We need open hemostasis on post-operative day (POD) 1and a percutaneous drainage tube replacement for an intraperitoneal abscess on POD 24. The patient was discharged from the hospital on POD 37 with normal serum C-peptide level, which suggests favorable insulin secretion from transplanted islets, and the epigastric pain that suffered her preoperatively resulted in a dramatic improvement.ConclusionsWhen performing the Frey's procedure, the elevated jejunal loop and Y-anastomosis jejunal loop with sufficient length allow them to be used directly for the reconstructions in the possible subsequent TP.