The impact of preoperative renal insufficiency on the outcomes of patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Purpose: This study evaluated the impact of renal function impairment on long-term survival outcomes and adjuvant therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods: In this study, 264 patients who underwent PD for pancreatic head cancer between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were subsequently categorized into three groups according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate: normal group (> 90 mL/min/1.73 m², n = 73), moderate group (45-90 mL/min/1.73 m², n = 176), and severe group (< 45 mL/min/1.73 m², n = 15). The primary outcomes evaluated were postoperative complications, overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival (RFS). Additionally, the completion of adjuvant therapy and risk factors for adjuvant therapy discontinuation were analyzed.

Results: The total proportion of patients with complications was significantly higher in the severe group (p = 0.008). The proportion of patients with severe complications (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ IIIa) did not significantly differ between the chronic kidney disease (CKD) groups (p = 0.730). The proportion of patients in whom adjuvant therapy was completed was notably lower in the severe group (p = 0.011). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that CKD groups and hemoglobin levels ≤ 11.5 g/dL were independent predictors of adjuvant therapy completion failure (p = 0.016 and p = 0.016). There was no significant difference in the OS and RFS rates between the CKD groups (p = 0.499, p = 0.688).

Conclusions: In patients with pancreatic cancer and CKD, performing PD safely may be feasible; however, adjuvant therapy completion is challenging.