A prognostic score to predict major complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy

To develop and validate a simple prognostic score to predict major postoperative complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

PD still carries a high rate of severe postoperative complications. No specific score is currently available to stratify the patient's risk of major morbidity.

Between 2002 and 2010, preoperative, intraoperative, and outcome data from 700 consecutive patients undergoing PD in our institution were prospectively collected in an electronic database. Major complications were defined as levels III to V of Clavien-Dindo classification. On the basis of a multivariate regression model, the score was developed using a random two-thirds of the population (n = 469) and was validated on the remaining 231 patients.

Major complication rate was 16.7% (117/700). Significant predictors included in the scoring system were: pancreas texture, pancreatic duct diameter, operative blood loss, and ASA score. The mean risk of developing major postoperative complications was 7% in patients with score 0 to 3, 13% in patients with score 4 to 7, 23% in patients with score 8 to 11, and 36% in patients with score 12 to 15. In the validation population, the predicted risk of major complications was 15.2% versus a 16.9% observed risk (C-statistic index = 0.743).

This new score may accurately predict a patient's postoperative outcome. Early identification of high-risk patients could help the surgeon to adopt intraoperative and postoperative strategies tailored on individual basis.