Background; The aim of this study was to examine clinically the functional changes that may occur in the GIT and the
histopathological changes that may occur in different organs after duodenum preserving total Pancreatectomy in dogs .
Methods: This was an experimental study on dogs . Total Pancreatectomy without duodenectomy was performed in 15
dogs and 3 were left intact as control . The evolved technique preserved the vascular integrity of the duodenum . All operated dogs were given insulin postoperatively . Five pancreatectomized dogs and one control dog were euthanatized every 10 days post operatively for histopathological study of liver , spleen , lung, kidney, stomach, intestine, urinary bladder and heart.
During the postoperative period the dogs were observed for any GIT troubles whether diarrhea, vomiting, or any other
abnormal changes.
Results: The diabetic dogs survived for period up to 10, 20 and 30 days postoperatively. Loss of weight and dehydration
were common findings in the diabetic dogs after 20 to 30 days postoperatively due to the postoperative hyperglycemia that was still present in spite of the daily insulin therapy (single dose). None of the diabetic dogs had any episodes of vomiting or diarrhea and one dog had a black tarry stools twenty days post pancreatectomy that was attributed to ulceration in GIT .
However the dog survived till the time of euthanasia . The histopatological study showed that lipidosis was the predominant microscopic lesion , the renal lesion showed nephrosis and glomerulopathy and in one case papillary necrosis was observed .
Lymphocytic depletion was observed in the spleen . Small gastric ulcer was seen in one case 20 days post operatively . Other infrequent lesions encompassed pulmonary congestion , interstitial pneumonia and pleural squamous metaplasia were recorded . No pathological changes were recorded in sections of intestine , urinary bladder and heart .
Conclusion: There were no functional problems in GIT associated with duodenum preserving total pancreatectomy and
almost all histopathological changes that occurred in different organs were due to the resulting diabetes secondary to the removal of the pancreas .The safety of such technique in humans need to be more meticulously evaluated due to the
complexity of human surgical anatomy .