Objective: To summarize the experience in the surgi-cal treatment of chronic pancreatitis.Methods: 189 patients with pancreatitis admittedfrom May 1983 to August 1999 to our hospital werereviewed.Results: 136 (72 %) patients received surgical treat-ment including pancreatoduodenectomy (15 pa-tients), distal pancreatectomy (12), internal drain-age of pancreatic pseudocyst (28), side-to-side pan-creaticojejunostomy (16), relief of biliary stenosis(58), and pancreatic biopsy (7). Pain was relievedin 97.8 % of the patients, and the complication ratewas 1.5%.Conclusions: It is crucial to select various surgicalstrategies at a proper time for chronic pancreatitispatients. Patients with chronic pancreatitis compli-cated by dilation or obstruction of the pancreaticduct or with biliary pancreatitis should be operatedon in early stages, whereas those with other types ofchronic pancreatitis should receive the therapy focu-sing on the alleviation of their symptoms, not on ear-ly surgical intervention. The timing and modality ofsurgery are important in improving the life quality ofthe patients and changing their natural history of thedisease.
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