[Risk and follow-up after multi-visceral resections including the left side of the pancreas]

Aim of this study was to analyze the operative risk of multivisceral resection including the left side of the pancreas. Between September 1 th, 1985 and May 31 th, 1994 18 multivisceral resections including the left side of the pancreas and 8 left-sided pancreatic resections were performed at the University Hospital for General and Abdominal Surgery, Mainz. Postoperatively 5 of the 18 patients with multivisceral resections and 3 of the 8 patients with left-sided pancreatic resections developed minor complications (wound infections, pneumonia). One insufficiency of an esophagojejunostomy was seen. One patient died after gastrectomy and left-sided pancreatic resection due to a pneumonia. In this case the operation was performed after substitution of 22 red cell packs under emergency conditions because of an infiltration of the splenic artery by a lymphoma of the stomach. The best prognosis had patients with neuroendocrine tumors. These results show that in case of an elective operation the risk of multi-visceral resections including the left side of the pancreas is comparable to that of left-sided pancreatic resections alone.