Objective To study the characteristics and management of peripancreatic effusion in chronic pancreatitis. Methods Data of 32 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 141 acute pancreatitis admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2018 to December 2019 were collected. According to the Atlanta classification, the peripancreatic effusion was divided into four categories: acute peripancreatic fluid collection (APFC), acute necrotic collection(ANC), pancreatic pseudocyst (PPC) and walled-off necrosis (WON). The general information, clinical manifestations, medical history, laboratory examination indicators and treatment of the four types of patients were recorded and analyzed. Results Among the 32 patients with chronic pancreatitis complicated with peripancreatic effusion, 27 patients (84.4%) were diagnosed as having PPC, 3 patients (9.4%) WON and 2 (6.2%) APFC. No chronic pancreatitis with ANC was found. The incidence of PPC was higher in patients with chronic pancreatitis than those with acute pancreatitis [84.4% (27/32) VS 31.2% (44/141), P<0.01], and the APFC was lower [6.2% (2/32) VS 24.8% (35/141), P=0.021]. The incidence of ANC was also lower [0.0% (0/32) VS 36.9% (52/141), P<0.01], and there was no significant difference in the incidence of WON [9.4% (3/32) VS 7.1% (10/141), P=0.944]. Compared with patients with peripancreatic effusion of chronic pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis showed a higher proportion of clinical manifestations: fever [19.1% (27/141) VS 3.1% (1/32)], nausea [59.6% (84/141) VS 21.9% (7/32)], vomit [56.7% (80/141) VS 21.9% (7/32)], tenderness [79.4% (112/141) VS 34.4% (11/32)], rebounding pain [42.6% (60/141) VS 0.0% (0/32)], increase of C reactive protein [95.7% (135/141) VS 40.6% (13/32)] (P< 0.05), and the mean hospital stay was longer (13 days VS 11 days, P=0.048). Imaging examination showed that the proportion of lesions >5 cm in diameter in PPC patients with acute pancreatitis was higher than those with chronic pancreatitis [70.5% (31/44) VS 29.6% (8/27), P=0.001]. WON in chronic pancreatitis patients was limited to the pancreas [3/3 VS 1/10, P =0.014]. In terms of treatment strategies, 25 patients (78.1%) received conservative treatment in 32 chronic pancreatitis. There was no significant difference in treatment strategy between patients with acute pancreatitis and those with chronic pancreatitis. Conclusion In the peripancreatic effusion of chronic pancreatitis, PPC is the most common. Peripancreatic effusion is mainly treated conservatively. There is no difference in treatment among different types of peripancreatic effusion in chronic pancreatitis. However, compared with chronic pancreatitis, peripancreatic effusion in acute pancreatitis may need more active intervention.