Juraj Bober, Jana Kaťuchová
Chronic pancreatitis is characterized as a progressive inflammatory process of pancreas that causes progressive destruction of its parenchyma and fibrosis, with subsequent endocrine and exocrine insufficiency, diabetes caused by devastation of Langerhans islets. The most frequent cause of chronic pancreatitis is alcohol in combination with nicotine. The clinical picture is dominated by persistent or recurrent painful attacks. The criterion for successful treatment of chronic pancreatitis is the relief of pain and improved quality of life. Current options for surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis are drainage procedures, pancreatic resections and combination of both. Surgical procedures for chronic pancreatitis have a low rate of postoperative complications and relatively good long-term results, but they are dependent also on the healthy life style of patients themselves. The continued consumption of alcohol and drugs has resulted in worse outcomes, sometimes in the complete failure of therapy, and subsequently in condition similar to that one before surgery. Chronic pancreatitis has significant socio-economic consequences. They are caused by persistence of pain, as well as frequent hospitalization, long-term sicknessabsence and premature retirement predominantly in middle age patients.