Multivisceral and extended resections during pancreatoduodenectomy increase morbidity and mortality

Improvements in outcomes after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) have permitted more complex resections. Complete extirpation at PD may require multivisceral resection (MVR-PD); however, descriptions of morbidity of MVR-PD are limited to small, single-institution series.

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database (2005-2011) was used to compare 30-day postoperative morbidity of PD with MVR-PD. Concurrent resection of colon, small bowel, stomach, kidney, or adrenal gland defined MVR-PD.

Of 9,927 PDs, MVR-PD was performed in 273 patients (3%). MVR included colon (58%), small bowel (30%), and gastric (12%) resections. Preoperative comorbidities were similar between groups. Pancreatic, duodenal, or periampullary cancer was present in 75% of patients. Mortality (8.8% vs 2.9%) and major morbidity (56.8% vs 30.8%) were much greater for MVR-PD versus PD alone (P < .001). MVR-PD patients also experienced greater rates of wound, pulmonary, cardiac, thromboembolic, renal, and septic complications. On multivariable regression, MVR was an independent predictor of death (odds ratio [OR], 3.4; P < .001), overall morbidity (OR, 3.01; P < .001), major morbidity (OR, 3.21; P < .001), and minor morbidity (OR, 1.65; P = .03). Among patients undergoing PD+MVR, colectomy was an independent predictor of increased overall morbidity (OR, 1.96; P = .03) and major morbidity (OR, 1.90; P = .02).

Margin-negative resection may require MVRs at the time of PD. MVR at is associated with 3-fold mortality and substantial morbidity after adjusting for comorbidities. Colectomy independently predicted major morbidity. At PD, the morbidity of MVR should be approached with caution when attempting margin-negative resection.