title: Elective operations in chronic alcohol induced pancreatitis.
abstract: The role of surgical treatment in the management of chronic pancreatitis has increased, mainly because of improved diagnostic methods. In the present study, 83 consecutive patients who were operated upon for chronic alcohol induced pancreatitis between 1970 and 1980 are reviewed. The results indicate that the best results with regard to pain relief were achieved with lateral drainage operation in patients with dilated pancreatic ducts. A sufficient pancreatic resection gives satisfactory results in patients with nondilated ducts. Patients with severe pancreatic changes and a long history of alcoholism are best treated by extended pancreatic resections with regard to pain relief; however, most of the patients are still unable to work after the operation. A constant follow-up and active surgical attitude at the early stage of the disease before the circulus vitiosus of pain, drugs, inability to work and disturbances in social life are of paramount importance.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004322:Drainage; D004386:Duodenum / Q000601:surgery; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010179:Pancreas / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010192:Pancreatic Pseudocyst / Q000150:complications; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors