On the basis of 15-year experience in the treatment of patients with c
hronic pancreatitis, among which 236 patients underwent operation, the
authors describe the examination scheme and duscuss the indications a
nd various methods for treatment of the disease. Particular attention
is bestowed upon morphological changes of the pancreas, including ultr
astructural analysis, as well as on the study of the functional condit
ion by evaluation of the pure pancreatic secretions. The importance of
the extrasecretory function of the pancreas in choosing the method of
direct intervention on the organ is shown. The indications for nonope
rative, endoscopic, and surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis are
determined according to the morphofunctional changes.