Characterizing gastrointestinal dysfunction after pancreatic resection: a single-center retrospective study.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Oncology
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Pancreatic resection frequently leads to gastrointestinal (GI) side effects like malabsorption and nausea.
• These symptoms impede recovery, adjuvant therapy, and patient quality of life (QOL).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of GI dysfunction post-pancreatectomy.
• To identify patient risk factors for developing GI dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 545 patients undergoing pancreatic resection (2014-2019).
• Analysis of demographics, operative factors, and postoperative GI symptoms.
• Statistical tests compared GI dysfunction across patient subgroups.

Main Results:

• 67% of patients experienced persistent GI symptoms post-hospitalization.
• Only 20% were referred for gastroenterology evaluation, with 5.5% receiving a diagnosis.
• Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) patients and Caucasian patients showed higher symptom reporting and referral rates, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Gastrointestinal dysfunction is prevalent after pancreatic resection, but diagnosis and treatment are infrequent.
• Referral patterns for GI evaluation appear to differ by race.
• Earlier diagnosis and treatment of postoperative digestive disorders are crucial for optimizing QOL.