[Medical and surgical management of chronic pancreatitis (author's transl)].

Chronic pancreatitis has to be treated in the first line by medical means. Dietary procedures, absolute abstinence from alcohol, compensation of malabsorption and treatment of diabetes will do in most cases. Surgery is indicated in cases resistent to this form of therapy of when complications arise (cysts, persistent jaundice, portal hypertension). The patient has to be given high caloric parenteral nutrition preoperatively. Pancreato-jejunostomy with an Y shaped loop and surgical removal of various amounts of pancreatic tissue are the only efficient surgical procedures. In cases of dilatation of the pancreatic duct drainage has to be performed. Results of surgery are satisfactory in 2/3 of cases.