Postoperative Pancreatitis and Its Correlation With Clinically Relevant Pancreatic Fistula in Pancreaticoduodenectomy- A Prospective Observational Study

STUDY PROCEDURE:

Demographic, pathological and intraoperative data will be recorded in a prospectively maintained database populated from a combination of electronic patient records, preoperative imaging and anaesthetic charts. Preoperative clinical data included age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and the results of serum biochemical investigations including serum bilirubin, urea and amylase. The serum amylase measured throughout the study period is total amylase. Preoperative computed tomography images will beanalyzed to calculate pancreatic duct diameter at the line of transection of the pancreas anterior to the portal vein. Intraoperative data included reconstruction technique, texture of the pancreatic remnant and estimated blood loss. Blood loss data will be compiled from a combination of anaesthetic charts and perioperative blood transfusion data. Specimens will be dichotomized according to whether their pathology was associated with hard pancreatic parenchyma [pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and chronic pancreatitis] or with soft or normal pancreatic parenchyma (ampullary carcinoma, duodenal carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumours and other lesions). Outcome data included length of stay in a critical care environment [defined as either an intensive care unit (ICU) or a surgical high-dependency unit (SHDU)] and length of postoperative hospital stay. All postoperative complications will be prospectively recorded and graded according to the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) and International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) classifications and the Clavien-Dindo classification. Complications of ISGPS Grades B and C and Clavien-Dindo Grades III-V are considered clinically significant. Mortality will be recorded at 30-day and 90-day time-points.

Serum amylase will be systematically measured on POD1 and POD3 according to our institutional policy. No additional radiological or laboratory studies are required for the diagnosis of postoperative pancreatitis. No specific protocols for the treatment of POP will be followed during the study period because none are available. Due to the absence of a widely accepted definition, POP is defined according to Connor's definition1 as an elevation in serum pancreatic amylase above the upper limit of normal on postoperative day (POD) 0 or 1. At our institution, the upper limit of normal for serum pancreatic amylase is 100 U/L.