Delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A study of the national surgical quality improvement program

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) remains common after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Risk factors for DGE have been difficult to identify due to a lack of a standard definition. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with DGE using a standard definition across a national cohort of patients.

A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent PD from 2014 to 2016 within the ACS-NSQIP pancreatectomy-specific module was performed. Multivariable (MV) regression was used to determine perioperative risk factors for DGE.

Of 10,249 patients undergoing PD, 16.6% developed DGE and were older (65.3 vs. 64.3 years), more often male (62.5% vs. 51.9%), overweight/obese (66.7% vs. 61.3%), and American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) class 3 (80.0% vs. 76.0%). Rates of pylorus preservation (41.4% vs. 38.7%) were higher, and median operative time (373 vs. 354 min) longer. On MV analysis, age≥65 years [OR 1.26 (95%CI 1.13-1.41)], male sex [OR 1.54 (95%CI 1.38-1.72), body mass index (BMI) > 30 [OR 1.22 (95%CI 1.06-1.40)], ASA class≥3 [OR 1.24 (95%CI 1.08-1.42)], pylorus preservation [OR 1.08 (95%CI 1.02-1.14)], and longer operative time [OR 1.26 (95%CI 1.13-1.40)] remained associated with DGE. Preoperative chemotherapy was associated with decreased risk of DGE [OR 0.77 (95%CI 0.64-0.93)].

In this national, multicenter cohort of patients undergoing PD, 16.6% of patients developed DGE based on a standardized definition. Perioperative factors including age, BMI, ASA class, pylorus preservation, and operative time were associated with increased risk of DGE. Further research is warranted to identify opportunities for prevention via preoperative rehabilitation strategies and treatment.