Chronic relapsing pancreatitis is a disease of recurring acute episodes of severe upper abdominal pain which are progressive and gradually may become so severe and so frequent as to be intractable.Early in the disease the function of the gland and of the islet tissue may be disturbed only at the time of the acute attack, but subsequently these changes may become permanent and manifested by steatorrhea, creatorrhea and diabetes mellitus. The results of studies of pancreatic function parallel those of the pathologic process, and calcification of the pancreas is common.Medical treatment is generally disappointing. Paravertebral injections may control acute pain. Surgical therapy is none too satisfactory. Long continued biliary drainage, anastomosis between the common bile duct and duodenum and between the pancreatic duct and duodenum, section of the sphincter of Oddi, partial and total pancreatectomy and sympathectomy, splanchnicectomy and vagotomy have been helpful in relieving pain and in preventing the recurrence of attacks in some instances.
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