Incidence and risk factors of chylous ascites after pancreatic resection

Chylous ascites (CA) is a rare postoperative complication. It also occurs in pancreatic surgery and can influence the patient's prognosis after pancreatic resection. There are few studies focusing on CA following pancreatic resection. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of CA following pancreatic resection. Patients who underwent pancreatic resection from the year 2007 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis of CA was based on the presence of a non-infectious milky or creamy peritoneal fluid greater than 100 ml/day with a triglyceride concentration ≥110 mg/dl. The incidence and possible risk factors following pancreatic resection were evaluated. In this study, 1921 patients who underwent pancreatic resection were included. 49 patients developed CA. The overall incidence was 2.6 percent (49 out of 1921). The incidence following pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy was much higher (35 out of 1241, 12 out of 332, respectively). A multivariable analysis demonstrated that manipulating para-aortic area and superior mesenteric artery root area; retroperitoneal invasion; focal chronic pancreatitis and early enteral feeding were the independent risk factors for CA after pancreatic surgery. In conclusion, CA is a rare complication after pancreatic resection. Some clinicopathological factors were associated with the development of CA following pancreatic resection.