The authors report on the influence of surgical treatment on the nutritional status of patients with the painful form of chronic pancreatitis. They examined 25 patients and found that before operation 15 patients, i.e. 60%, were malnourished. Three months after operation malnutrition was found in only 7 patients, i.e. in 28 %, and 9 months after the operation in 6 patients, from 24 examined, i.e. in 25 % . The improvement of the values of total protein and albumin was statistical- ly significant, the level of prealbumin, transferrin and the body mass index, however did not change significantly. When evaluating trace elements, a decrease in zinc and magnesium levels was found; they improved only after substitution; the level copper, on the other hand, was eleva- ted before operation or it was at the upper range of standard values, after operation its value did not change significantly.

        Key words: chronic pancreatitis – surgery of the pancreas – nutritional status