Retrograde Surgical Drainage of Pancreas for Chronic Relapsing Pancreatitis

The incidence of relapsing pancreatitis following recovery from acute pancreatitis has not clearly been determined. Thompson and Derrick,²⁹in a study of 61 cases, found an incidence of recurrence of 64%. Collins and Owens⁶state that most patients who survive acute pancreatitis will not have subsequent attacks. Wilkinson and associates³²state that between 7% and 15% of patients with acute pancreatitis developed other attacks. Numerous procedures have been advised for the relief of relapsing pancreatitis, none of them completely satisfactory. We should consider the disease as being primary in some cases and secondary in others.²⁶The procedures that will be beneficial in secondary chronic relapsing pancreatitis are, in the main, not satisfactory for the primary type. The secondary type of chronic relapsing pancreatitis is exemplified by those cases in which stones are present in the ampulla of Vater or biliary tract disease is present. Adequate treatment