Introduction: Complications after pancreatic resections remain frequent despite a decreasing mortality. Pancreatic leakages represent a relevant part of those complications but data on risk factors for their occurrence are rare. We analyzed our experience with incidence, clinical course, and risk factors of pancreatic leakage in a large patient group.
Methods: We analyzed the prospectively documented perioperative data of 345 patients with pancreatic resections carried out between 1994 and 2001. Main indications for surgery were chronic pancreatitis (57%) and malignant tumors (37%). The following operations were performed: Whipple's operation 15%, pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy 53%, duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection 19%, and distal pancreatic resection 13%. Risk factors were analyzed using uni- and multivariate methods.
Results: Postoperative mortality and complication rate were 2.9% and 41%, respectively. A pancreatic leakage occurred in 9.9%. In the majority of patients, pancreatic leakage was asymptomatic and controlled by prolonged drainage. However, one fourth of the patients with pancreatic leakage required reoperation. The mortality of pancreatic leakage was 12%. No patient with chronic pancreatitis died as a consequence of pancreatic leakage. Impaired preoperative renal function was the only risk factor for the occurrence of postoperative pancreatic leakage.
Conclusions: Although easily managed in the majority of cases, pancreatic leakage still represents a relevant postoperative complication after pancreatic resection, especially in patients with malignant disease. Because of an increased risk of developing pancreatic leakage, an impaired renal function should be considered specifically in the perioperative management of the patients.