Clinical impact of preoperative acute pancreatitis in patients who undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary tumors

AIM: To investigate the impact of preoperative acute pancreatitis(PAP) on the surgical management of periampullary tumors.METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with periampullary tumors and PAP were retrospectively analyzed. Thirtyfour patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD) and 4 patients who underwent total pancreatectomy were compared with a control group of 145 patients without PAP during the same period.RESULTS: The preoperative waiting time was significantly shorter for the concomitant PAP patients who underwent a resection(22.4 d vs 54.6 d, p < 0.001)compared to those who did not. The presence of PAP significantly increased the rate of severe complications(Clavien grade 3 or higher)(17.6% vs 4.8%, p = 0.019)and lengthened the hospital stay(19.5 d vs 14.5 d,p = 0.006). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that PAP was an independent risk factor for postoperative pancreatic fistula(OR = 2.91; 95%CI:1.10-7.68; p = 0.032) and severe complications(OR =4.70; 95%CI: 1.48-14.96; p = 0.009) after PD. There was no perioperative mortality.CONCLUSION: PAP significantly increases the incidence of severe complications and lengthens thehospital stay following PD. PD could be safely performed in highly selective patients with PAP.