Post-pancreatic resection: general overview and unique complications

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most silently lethal forms of malignancy. With a lack of evidence-based research regarding pancreatic cancer, the evidence-based treatment options are limited. Currently, the best chance for a curative treatment is a pancreatic resection that typically is combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. The long-term treatment course and overall survival of the patient depend largely on the pathology report generated from the expurgated tissue analysis. After pancreatic resection, patients may experience both general and unique complications that, if not treated appropriately and assessed correctly, can be lethal. Provided here is a general overview of pancreatic resections and their unique postoperative complications for critical-care nurses. As the first-line provider, critical-care nurses assess and manage acute complications, in addition to educating patients to the long-term complications and how to manage them.