Pancreatic surgery comes with many repercussions

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a woman, age 78, and in August 2015 I had my gallbladder removed via a laparoscopic procedure.

In January of this year, I was having the same symptoms I had before my gallbladder surgery.

I had a CT scan with contrast, which showed that there were two stones in the common bile duct that had to be removed.

It was discovered at this time, by means of a needle biopsy, that some cysts were present inside the tail of the pancreas.

In May, surgery was performed to remove a slice off the precancerous tail of the pancreas that contained the cysts.

I’m happy that no cancer was found in the biopsy of the pancreas. I was told that there were “adhesions” around my colon, so 6 inches of my colon was removed also.

I had complications causing pneumonia and sepsis. I was hospitalized and did recover. I was put on Zenpep 5,000 IU three times a day for the pancreas. What benefit will I get from this medication, and is it necessary and long term? -- J.M.

ANSWER: Surgery done on the pancreas certainly can cause complications, so surgeons are rightly cautious about doing it.

The pancreas’ major job in the body is to make digestive enzymes to help break down food.

However, these digestive enzymes also can damage the pancreas itself and the structures around it, including the intestines, in spite of good surgical technique.

This can exacerbate a condition called chronic pancreatitis, which often is caused by blockages in the common bile duct. (It’s called “common” because both bile from the gallbladder and pancreatic secretions flow though this duct.)

Zenpep is one brand of pancreatic enzyme replacement.

Giving these enzymes by mouth (they need to be in a special capsule so they won’t be destroyed by the stomach acid but will work in the intestine) allows the pancreas to “rest.” It’s helpful in relieving pain and improving digestion.

You should need to be on these long term only if you are having abdominal pain or if you are unable to digest fat. People who can’t digest fat develop steatorrhea (“steat” means “fat”; “rrhea” means “flow through,” from Greek), whose symptoms include greasy diarrhea and weight loss.

If you weren’t having either abdominal pain or fat loss, I wonder if your surgeon gave it to help prevent complications.

Your surgeon or a gastroenterologist can answer this question for you.

DEAR DR. ROACH: Your recent article regarding warfarin testing was timely for a question we have been struggling with regarding our 88-year-old mother, who is facing warfarin therapy. My brother says the lab where he goes for INR testing advised him that the testing monitors blood levels of warfarin. The lab where my mother goes states that the test monitors how long it takes the blood to clot. Could you please advise which is correct? -- C.S.

ANSWER: Warfarin works by blocking vitamin K, absorbed from food, which in turn is necessary for the liver to make clotting factors. The effectiveness of warfarin is measured by the INR (international normalized ratio), a test of blood-clotting time. Strictly speaking, your brother’s lab is correct, but the two amount to almost the same thing, since it’s the amount of warfarin (as well as the amount of vitamin K taken in) that affects the clotting times.

READERS: The booklet on restless leg syndrome and nighttime cramps offers more tips. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Roach, Book No. 306, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.

Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.