Morbidity and mortality in pancreatic resection

• Published in: Cirugia Española Vol. 91; no. 10; p. 651
• Main Authors: Dominguez-Comesaña, Elías, Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Francisco Javier, Ulla-Rocha, José Luis, Lede-Fernandez, Angel, Portela-Serra, José Luis, Piñon-Cimadevila, Miguel Ángel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01-12-2013
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreatectomy - adverse effects; Pancreatectomy - mortality; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Prospective Studies; Pancreatectomía; Morbilidad postoperatoria; Pancreatic resection; Postoperative morbidity; Resección pancreática; Pancreatectomy
• ISSN: 1578-147X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ciresp.2012.12.004

Assess the postoperative morbidity rates in pancreatic resection.
Prospective observational study which includes 117 patients who underwent surgery consecutively due to pancreatic or periampullary tumours. In 61 of the patients, cephalic pancreatectomy was carried out; 15 underwent total pancreatectomy; one underwent enucleation and 40 underwent distal pancreatectomy.
Overall morbidity was 48.7% (59% for cephalic pancreatectomy, 35% for distal pancreatectomy and 46.7% for total pancreatectomy). The most frequent complications were intra-abdominal abscesses and collections (15.38%) and medical complications (13.68%). The incidence of pancreatic fistula was 9.83% for cephalic pancreatectomy and 10% for distal pancreatectomy. The reintervention incidence was 14.53%. Overall mortality was 5.12% (6.56% for cephalic pancreatectomy, 2.5% for distal pancreatectomy and 6.67% for total pancreatectomy). The presence of postoperative complications, the need for reintervention and the fact of being over 70 years of age correlated significantly with mortality.
Pancreatic resection has high morbidity rates. Mortality is low and is practically limited to patients older than 70 years.