Pancreatic tissue pressure and pain in chronic pancreatitis.

Pancreatic tissue pressure (PTP) was measured peroperatively by the needle technique in 14 patients with chronic pancreatitis undergoing drainage operations for pseudocysts (six patients) or dilated ducts (eight patients). All patients suffered from severe abdominal pain before the operation, and a pain evaluation was made at discharge and after 8-18 months of observation. PTP was increased in all patients and was not different in the two groups. PTP decreased significantly in both groups after drainage. Pain relief at discharge was good or fair in 12 patients and poor in one (one patient died postoperatively). During observation, pain returned in four patients. Long-term pain relief was not related to PTP decrease, PTP after operation, type of operation, or patency of anastomosis as seen by endoscopic retrograde pancreaticography.