A long-term follow-up study reveals that early surgery significantly reduces pain and enhances patient satisfaction compared to an endoscopy-first approach in chronic pancreatitis patients. After an average of 98 months, the early surgery group reported lower pain scores (33 vs. 51) and a higher rate of complete pain relief (45% vs. 20%). Additionally, satisfaction with treatment also favored the early surgery group (71% vs. 33%). Patients transitioning from endoscopy to surgery experienced poorer outcomes.
Journal Article by van Veldhuisen CL, Kempeneers MA (…) Issa Y et 27 al. in JAMA Surg