Patna: Dr Manish Mandal, Professor and Head of Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver Transplant at IGIMS Patna, addressed the 44th Biennial World Congress of the International College of Surgeons (USA) in Singapore, where he delivered an invited lecture on the management of chronic pancreatitis.
Speaking at the global forum, Dr Mandal said the disease is increasing across both rural and urban India, driven largely by changing diets, the adoption of Western food habits and rising alcohol and tobacco consumption. These shifts, he noted, are contributing to a marked rise in chronic pancreatitis in Bihar and across the country.
The disease typically presents with abdominal pain, fatty diarrhoea (steatorrhoea) and elevated blood sugar. Dr Mandal explained that the first line of treatment involves endoscopic procedures to remove stones and calcifications from the main pancreatic duct, sometimes combined with the placement of a stent. This helps reduce pain and improve glucose control.
If symptoms persist despite medical therapy and endoscopic management, surgery becomes necessary. “We usually perform a lateral pancreaticojejunostomy,” he said, adding that advances in laparoscopic and robotic techniques now allow for shorter operations, reduced blood loss and faster recovery.
Dr Mandal emphasised that early surgical intervention for patients with persistent pain leads to faster relief and better preservation of pancreatic function, lowering long-term dependence on insulin or oral anti-diabetic medication. In rare cases where cancer coexists with chronic calcific pancreatitis, a total pancreatectomy with islet cell transplantation may be required.
Reflecting on his department’s experience, he said that IGIMS has performed 148 such operations in the past five years, with only two minor complications involving pancreatic juice leakage, both of which were managed successfully. “All patients recovered and experienced significant pain relief and stabilised blood sugar after surgery,” he said.
Dr Mandal was awarded a certificate by Dr Parakute, President of the International College of Surgeons, following his lecture. The congress saw participation from surgeons from several countries, marking a significant platform for sharing advances in global surgical practice.Top of Form
