48 patients operated on complicated chronic pancreatitis have been examined. It has been shown that the determination of the content of the fecal elastase-1 is the obligatory method of preoperative examination, since its amount reflects the extent of intensity of morphological changes of the pancreas and in combination with the results of the instrumental examination, defines the indication for the direct draining operation on pancreas: within the amount of fecal elastase-1 less than 50 mkg/g and more than 200 mkg/g the operation is indicated only in presence of pain syndrome caused by ductus pancreaticus hypertension.
