Procedure‐specific morbidity of pancreatoduodenectomy: a systematic review of incidence and risk factors

Air Leak Test: Extending the Horizon From the Bowel to Pancreatoduodenectomy

Background Intraoperative air leak test (ALT) is routinely used to check anastomosis of the stomach, small intestine, and rectum. Its advantage is that it repairs the leak at the same time, thus preventing postoperative complications and re-exploration. Method ALT was done by insufflating the stomach with air to check the integrity of gastrojejunal anastomoses (GJ); the same air was pushed into the afferent jejunal limb to distend it up to hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) and pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ), thus testing the leak at all three anastomoses. ALT was performed in 16 patients (group 1) and the results were compared with 52 patients (group 2) who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) without ALT, between August 2019 and December 2022. Results ALT revealed a GJ leak in two and an HJ leak in one out of 16 patients, all of which were repaired immediately. It did not reveal any PJ leak. No postoperative bile leak was seen in group 1, while postoperative bile leak was seen in five of 52 patients in group 2 on postoperative day (POD) 1. High drain fluid amylase in the left drain on POD 3 was present in 11 patients (69%) in group 1 and 30 patients (44%) in group 2. A right drain was removed two days earlier and a left drain one day earlier in group 1. Reintervention and 30-day mortality were higher in group 2. Hospital stay was shorter (7.4 versus 8.2 days) in group 1. Conclusion Intraoperative ALT identified an anastomotic leak from GJ and HJ but not PJ, facilitating its immediate repair, thus preventing serious postoperative complications following PD. Whether ALT has any role in the detection of a PJ leak needs further validation.

Identifying the risk factors for pancreatic fistula after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) is a surgical procedure for treating pancreatic cancer; however, the risk of complications remains high owing to the wide range of organs involved during the surgery and the difficulty of anastomosis. Pancreatic fistula (PF) is a major complication that not only increases the risk of postoperative infection and abdominal hemorrhage but may also cause multi-organ failure, which is a serious threat to the patient's life. This study hypothesized the risk factors for PF after LPD.

AIM

To identify the risk factors for PF after laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy in patients with pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 201 patients admitted to the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between August 2022 and August 2023 who underwent LPD for pancreatic cancer. On the basis of the PF's incidence (grades B and C), patients were categorized into the PF (n = 15) and non-PF groups (n = 186). Differences in general data, preoperative laboratory indicators, and surgery-related factors between the two groups were compared and analyzed using multifactorial logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.

RESULTS

The proportions of males, combined hypertension, soft pancreatic texture, and pancreatic duct diameter ≤ 3 mm; surgery time; body mass index (BMI); and amylase (Am) level in the drainage fluid on the first postoperative day (Am > 1069 U/L) were greater in the PF group than in the non-PF group (P < 0.05), whereas the preoperative monocyte count in the PF group was lower than that in the non-PF group (all P < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis revealed that BMI > 24.91 kg/m² [odds ratio (OR) =13.978, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.886-103.581], hypertension (OR = 8.484, 95%CI: 1.22-58.994), soft pancreatic texture (OR = 42.015, 95%CI: 5.698-309.782), and operation time > 414 min (OR = 15.41, 95%CI: 1.63-145.674) were risk factors for the development of PF after LPD for pancreatic cancer (all P < 0.05). The areas under the ROC curve for BMI, hypertension, soft pancreatic texture, and time prediction of PF surgery were 0.655, 0.661, 0.873, and 0.758, respectively.

CONCLUSION

BMI (> 24.91 kg/m²), hypertension, soft pancreatic texture, and operation time (> 414 min) are considered to be the risk factors for postoperative PF.

Quality of life after pancreatoduodenectomy: Is the outcome predetermined by the diagnosis?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Non-physiological factors tied to the disease process may drive the diminished quality of life (QoL) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). We compared postoperative QoL among patients undergoing PD for either benign or malignant pathology.

METHODS

From 2012 to 2021, 228 patients underwent PD in a large healthcare system. Eighty-two patients (36.0%) were interviewed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. A minimum of 6 months after surgery was required for the survey. QoL outcomes were compared based on diagnosis (benign vs. malignant).

RESULTS

Patient mean age was 65 years (21-82), and forty-seven (57%) were men. Most patients underwent surgery for cancer, 76% (n = 62). Grade B postoperative pancreatic fistula incidence was higher in benign cases (30% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.024). Weight loss was more common in malignancy (79% vs. 50%, p = 0.016). Carcinoma patients felt less useful, hopeful, reported less control of their life and certainty of the future, and were less satisfied with their appearance. Carcinoma patients also reported diminished memory, fear of relapse, and greater financial burden.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term QoL is inferior in PD patients with carcinoma and is driven by the psychological and socioeconomic implications of malignancy. Supportive resources for pancreas cancer patients should be evaluated and optimized.

Postoperative complications after pancreatoduodenectomy for malignancy: results from the Recurrence After Whipple's (RAW) study

BACKGROUND

Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is associated with significant postoperative morbidity. Surgeons should have a sound understanding of the potential complications for consenting and benchmarking purposes. Furthermore, preoperative identification of high-risk patients can guide patient selection and potentially allow for targeted prehabilitation and/or individualized treatment regimens. Using a large multicentre cohort, this study aimed to calculate the incidence of all PD complications and identify risk factors.

METHOD

Data were extracted from the Recurrence After Whipple's (RAW) study, a retrospective cohort study of PD outcomes (29 centres from 8 countries, 2012-2015). The incidence and severity of all complications was recorded and potential risk factors for morbidity, major morbidity (Clavien-Dindo grade > IIIa), postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage (PPH) and 90-day mortality were investigated.

RESULTS

Among the 1348 included patients, overall morbidity, major morbidity, POPF, PPH and perioperative death affected 53 per cent (n = 720), 17 per cent (n = 228), 8 per cent (n = 108), 6 per cent (n = 84) and 4 per cent (n = 53), respectively. Following multivariable tests, a high BMI (P = 0.007), an ASA grade > II (P < 0.0001) and a classic Whipple approach (P = 0.005) were all associated with increased overall morbidity. In addition, ASA grade > II patients were at increased risk of major morbidity (P < 0.0001), and a raised BMI correlated with a greater risk of POPF (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this multicentre study of PD outcomes, an ASA grade > II was a risk factor for major morbidity and a high BMI was a risk factor for POPF. Patients who are preoperatively identified to be high risk may benefit from targeted prehabilitation or individualized treatment regimens.

Five-year follow-up after pancreatoduodenectomy performed for malignancy: A single-centre study

Backgrounds/Aims

The aim of this study was to describe short- and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) at a typical United Kingdom hepatopancreatobiliary unit.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of all PD patients with histologically-confirmed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), ampullary adenocarcinoma (AA), or distal cholangiocarcinoma (CC) from September 1st, 2006 to May 31st, 2015 was carried out. The following information was obtained: demographics, comorbidities, preoperative investigations, neoadjuvant treatment, operative details, postoperative management, complications, adjuvant treatment, five-year recurrence, and five-year survival. Effects of selected preoperative variables on short- and long-term outcomes were investigated.

Results

Of 271 included patients, 57.9% had PDAC, 25.8% had AA, and 16.2% had CC. In total, 67.9% experienced morbidity and 17.3% developed a Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III complication. The 90-day mortality was 3.3%. Clinically-relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula, bile leak, gastrojejunal leak, postpancreatectomy haemorrhage and delayed gastric emptying affected 8.1%, 4.1%, 0.0%, 9.2%, and 19.9% of patients, respectively. American Society of Anesthesiologists grade III-VI correlated with overall morbidity (p = 0.002) and major morbidity (p = 0.009), but not 90-day mortality or five-year survival. The same pattern was observed in patients with a preoperative serum bilirubin > 29 μmol/L and/or a neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio > 3.1. Five-year cancer recurrence and five-year survival were 68.3% and 22.5%, respectively. PDAC patients had higher five-year recurrence but lower five-year survival rates (both p = 0.001).

Conclusions

In our series, the majority of patients experienced a complication. However, few patients experienced major morbidity. Surgical risk factors did not affect five-year survival.

[Pancreaticoduodenectomy - results and prospects (two-center study)]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the results of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic tumors and complications of chronic pancreatitis regarding prediction and prevention of postoperative complications.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 336 PD procedures between 2016 and mid-2022 in two centers. We assessed the factors influencing specific postoperative complications (postoperative pancreatitis, pancreatic fistula, gastric stasis, arrosive bleeding). Several risk factors were distinguished: baseline pancreatic disease and tumor size, CT-signs of a «soft» gland, intraoperative assessment of the pancreas, number of functioning acinar structures. We assessed surgical prevention of pancreatic fistula via preserving adequate blood supply to the pancreatic stump. The last one is provided by extended pancreatic resection and reconstructive stage of surgery, i.e. Roux-en-Y hepatico- and duodenojejunostomy with isolation of pancreaticojejunostomy on the second loop.

RESULTS

Postoperative pancreatitis underlies specific complications after PD. The risk of pancreatic fistula in case of postoperative pancreatitis increases by 5.3 times compared to patients without pancreatitis. Postoperative pancreatic fistula is more common in patients with T1 and T2 tumors. According to univariate analysis, only pancreatic fistula significantly affects the risk of gastric stasis. Among 336 people who underwent PD, pancreatic fistula occurred in 69 patients (20.5%), gastric stasis - in 61 (18.2%), pancreatic fistula complicated by arrosive bleeding - in 45 (13.4%) patients. Mortality rate was 3.6% (n=15).

CONCLUSION

Modern prognostic criteria are valuable to predict specific complications after PD. A promising way to prevent postoperative pancreatitis can be extended pancreatic resection considering angioarchitectonics of the pancreatic stump. Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy is advisable to reduce aggressiveness of pancreatic fistula.