ABSTRACT
The clinical presentation of chronic pancreatitis includes pain, steatorrhea and diabetes. The most common etiology in the western world is excess alcohol use. Pain is present in >70% patients at presentation and decreases in intensity or resolves over several years in up to 75% of patients. Non-pancreatic causes of pain and local complications, chiefly pseudocysts and biliary obstruction should be excluded in all patients. All patients should be advised to abstain from alcohol and smoking and opiates should be used only to control severe exacerbations of pain. Although pancreatic enzyme replacement is reported to be useful in the management of pancreatic pain, it is of little or no benefit in patients with established chronic pancreatitis. Celiac plexus block using steroids may be helpful to tide patients over an episode of severe pain. Intractable pain is an indication for surgery that includes pancreatic drainage procedure or pancreatic resection. For control of malabsorption, adequate pancreatic enzyme replacement with or without an acid reducing agent is recommended. The principles of management of pancreatic diabetes are similar to diabetes mellitus.
