[Postoperative care of patients with chronic pancreatitis (author's transl)]

137 patients, who had had surgery of the pancreas, were followed up postoperatively; 72 of these had had resection of pancreas, 65 patients had organ preserving surgery. Diabetes occurred in 44% of the total group. Control of diabetes was adequate only in 19%. 89 patients had an insufficient exocrine pancreatic function; substitution with pancreatic enzyme products was not adequate in 39 patients in this group. 65% took up work again, the working ability being reduced by less than 33%. 14% of the whole group retired immediately after operation from working life, 6% remained jobless for longer periods of time. After surgery of the pancreas patients should be encouraged to active work; granting pensions too generously will increase the relapse rate of alcoholism. In 6 cases of subtotal surgery and in 21 cases of organ preserving surgery operation had to be done for a second time. A classification is proposed for evaluation of postoperative results.