Risk factors for mortality and intra-abdominal morbidity after distal pancreatectomy

The purpose of this study was to analyze the short-term outcome and to determine risk factors after distal pancreatectomy (DP).

This prospective single-center study included 61 patients undergoing DP with splenic preservation in 6 (10%). The diagnoses included pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n = 9), neuroendocrine neoplasms (n = 17), benign neoplasm (n = 26), pseudocyst (n = 4), chronic pancreatitis (n = 2), and other diagnoses (n = 3). Twelve clinical factors were studied. The chi-square test was used for univariate analysis.

The median duration of the postoperative hospital stay was 10 days (range, 5-155 days). Two patients (3%) died postoperatively; 12 patients (20%) had one or more intra-abdominal complications with reoperation necessary in 3 patients (5%): 6 pancreatic fistula (10%), 11 intra-abdominal collections (18%), 1 postoperative hemorrhage (2%). Univariate analysis showed that a body mass index >25 kg/m 2 was the only risk factor for intra-abdominal complication ( P = .003).

DP is associated with an intra-abdominal morbidity rate of 20%, which is increased for patients with a body mass index >25 kg/m 2 .