Frey's procedure

A surgical technique used in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis in which the diseased portions of the pancreas head are cored out. A lateral pancreaticojejunostomy (LRLPJ) is then performed in which a loop of bowel is then mobilized and attached over the exposed pancreatic duct to allow better drainage of the pancreas, including its head. ¹ Compared with a Puestow procedure, a Frey's procedure allows for better drainage of the pancreatic head.

Frey's operation is indicated on patients with chronic pancreatitis who have "head dominant" disease.

Postoperative complications after LRLPJ are usually septic in nature and are likely to occur more often in patients in whom endoscopic pancreatic stenting has been performed before surgical intervention.²

[1] Gourgiotis S, Germanos S, Ridolfini MP. Surgical management of chronic pancreatitis. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2007 May;6(2):121-33.

[2] Chaudhary A, Negi SS, Masood S, Thombare M. Complications after Frey's procedure for chronic pancreatitis. Am J Surg. 2004 Sep;188(3):277-81