Total pancreatectomy-islet autotransplantation in treatment of chronic pancreatitis: report of one case and literature review

  Objective  To evaluate the clinical efficacy of total pancreatectomy-islet autotransplantation (TP-IAT) in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

  Methods  One patient diagnosed with refractory chronic pancreatitis complicated with multiple pseudocysts and pancreatic stones underwent TP-IAT in the First People's Hospital of Foshan. Clinical data were collected and analyzed during postoperative 3 months follow-up.

  Results  The patient was well recovered after TP-IAT without complications, such as bleeding and severe hypoglycemia. Abdominal pain was completely relieved without taking analgesic drugs. During postoperative follow-up, the patient was treated with exogenous insulin, the fasting blood glucose was properly controlled and the function of islet cells was partially restored.

  Conclusions  TP-IAT can not only relieve the clinical symptoms of chronic pancreatitis, but also prevent postoperative diabetes mellitus, which is an efficacious treatment of refractory chronic pancreatitis.