The work analyses 141 patients who were operated on for primary chroni
c pancreatitis which was caused by alcohol abuse in 84.4 % of cases. T
he patients were divided into 2 subgroups according to the damage to t
he pancreas: 1 - with dilatation of the pancreatic duct (49.6 %), 2 -
without dilatation of the pancreatic duct (50.4 %). Internal drainage
of the duct system and their associated cysts was the main method of m
anagement of patients of the first group (52 patients). Patients of th
e second group were subjected to various resections of the pancreas (2
4) and occlusion of the ducts with a polymeric composition (19). In 38
cases the operation on the pancreas was complemented by operations on
the biliary tract, stomach, and duodenum. Various postoperative compl
ications were encountered in 27 (19.1 %) patients, mortality was 5.7 %
. The results were most favorable after operations for internal draina
ge, resection of the organ, and external drainage of the cysts. Irresp
ective of the type of the operation, progressive fibrous degenerative
changes of the gland with a statistically significant (p<0.05) reducti
on of its size was noted in the late-term period. The method of occlus
ion of the duct system was marked by the greatest number of poor resul
ts. Strict argumentation of the indications for the use of each type o
f operation makes it possible to obtain good and satisfactory late-ter
m results in 85.6 % of cases.