[Treatment of chronic painful pancreatitis by cryodestruction of the pancreas].

The authors describe their method of treatment of chronic painful pancreatitis by means of cryodestruction of the pancreas at the site of entering the nerve trunks and visually altered portions of the organ. The effect of super low temperature on the nerves of the gland and its tissue was studied in experiments on dogs. Cryodestruction was found to cause death of nerve elements and regeneration sclerosis of the gland tissue. Operations were made on 15 patients with chronic painful pancreatitis. In all the patients the painful syndrome was liquidated or considerably reduced after cryodestruction. All the patients have recovered. The operation technique is described.