Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignant disease with increasing incidence. Radical resection, the only potentially curative method, is possible in only 20-30% of patients.
The main symptoms of advanced non-resectable pancreatic head tumors include obstructive jaundice, caused by stenosis of distal common bile duct, duodenal obstruction and pain, especially in the epigastric region and back. The aim of palliative treatment is to relieve these complaints.
This paper evaluates our own palliative surgical treatment results in patients with pancreatic head and periampullary region cancer. This study included all patienst with pancreatic head and periampullary region cancer who underwent surgery at the Department of Surgery, University Hospital in Hradec Kralove from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2010.
The advantage of surgical hepatico-jejuno anastomosis over endoscopically placed stent is particulary in superior long-term patency. Therefore, it is advisable to perform these procedures in patients with longer expected survival.
Morbidity associated with palliative surgical procedures was relatively low and there was no mortality.