Prognosis of pancreatic endocrine function in chronic pancreatitis: significance of surgical treatment.

Of 100 cases of chronic pancreatitis, 20 received surgical treatment. The duration of illness before surgical treatment was less than 5 years in 75% of patients. Post-operatively, the persistent abdominal pain was relieved and serum pancreatic enzyme levels were normalized in all the patients except two who continued drinking alcohol. Exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function were unchanged or slightly improved post-operatively in most cases. In 9 of 10 patients who have been followed up post-operatively for over 4 years, pancreatic endocrine function has been maintained by diet control with no significant impairment of glucose tolerance. These results suggest that in patients with chronic pancreatitis surgical intervention is of greatest benefit in preservation of pancreatic functions when it is performed at an early stage in which these functions are relatively well maintained.