Surgery for chronic pancreatitis: what quality of life ahead?

We attempted to evaluate the quality of life of patients with proved long-lasting chronic pancreatitis. We measured the clinical and psychological status of 60 patients who had undergone various surgical treatments for their disease. The presence and severity of depression and other symptoms of distress were assessed, as were disease-specific functional and physical problems. Few patients had serious conditions, such as pain, malnutrition, or psychoneurotic complaints. The relation between depression and the time of onset of symptoms and of surgery appeared doubtful, and no statistically significant correlations were found between severity of emotional disturbance and other functional characteristics. Insulin-dependent diabetes and correlated diseases had the most negative influence on everyday well-being. Postoperative follow-up and the need for recurrent medical control and care did not lead to negative feelings.