The most important symptom in patients with chronic pancreatitis is pain. This is often difficult to treat. The current treatment consists of, successively, optimal medical treatment, endoscopic intervention and finally surgical intervention. Previous research has indicated that early surgical intervention leads to better pain management and preservation of pancreatic function. Recently, the randomised multicentre 'Early surgery versus optimal current step up practice for chronic-pancreatitis' (ESCAPE) trial was started in order to evaluate whether early surgery provides better reduction of pain in comparison with present treatment. In addition, serious complications, mortality, cost-effectiveness, quality of life, pancreas insufficiency, alternative pain scores, hospital admissions and the number of interventions will be assessed.