Prevention strategies for reducing the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistulas in patients following pancreatoduodenectomy

Objective —  to design and implement a preventive approach aimed at reducing the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistulas and other complications following pancreatoduodenectomy in patients diagnosed with cancer of the pancreatic head and periampullary region. Materials and methods. The present study involved the analysis of treatment outcomes for a cohort of 370 patients diagnosed with cancer of the pancreatic head and periampullary region who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy during the years 2015—2021. Between November 2018 and December 2021, a total of 141 patients were operated on using our modified pancreatic fistula risk score, an evaluation of preoperative sarcopenia status, and our risk mitigation strategies aimed at minimising postoperative complications. These patients made up the main group. The comparison group included a total of 229 patients. The surgical procedures were conducted between January 2015 and October 2018, employing generally accepted methods. However, the risk evaluation of potential pancreatic fistulas, the presence of sarcopenia, and the implementation of suggested prevention strategies were not taken into account. Results. The incidence of postoperative complications was significantly higher in the comparison group, with complications occurring in 94 (41.0%) patients, while in the main group, complications occurred in 43 (30.5%) patients (χ2=4.1; p=0.04). In the main group, a total of 16 (11.3%) patients experienced a clinically relevant grade B postoperative pancreatic fistula, which was significantly lower than in the comparison group, where the grade B or grade C fistula occurred in 64 (27.9%) patients (χ2=14.2; p=0.0002). In the main group, 2 patients died; the mortality rate was 1.4%. In the comparison group, 5 patients died, and the mortality rate was 2.2%. This rate was shown to be higher (χ2=0.27; p=0.6) when compared to the main group. Conclusions. The implemented approach demonstrated a substantial reduction in the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistulas from 27.9% to 11.3%, the number of postoperative complications from 41.0% to 30.5%, and mortality from 2.2% to 1.4%.