Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistula is a relevant complication after pancreatoduodenectomy. Therefore, preoperative detection of high risk patients may be important. We evaluated preoperative CT-imaging by planimetry at the expected resection plane along the superior mesenteric vein and correlated the results with the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula.
Patients and methods: From 2009 to 2013, 123 patients with pancreatoduodenectomy underwent homogenous preoperative imaging and reconstruction of the pancreatojejunostomy. Planimetry was performed at a multiplanar reconstruction of the pancreatic transection plane (diameter, range, duct width, area) as well as the calculation of ratios (duct width/pancreatic diameter; D/P-ratio). The measured values were correlated with the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula.
Results: Planimetry showed a significant difference of the pancreatic transection plane in relation to the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula. A thick parenchyma and a tiny duct are significant risk factors. In 84 % or, respectively, 94 % of the patients with postoperative pancreatic fistula, a duct width of less than 20 % of the pancreatic diameter was observed (D/P ratio < 0.2; p < 0.01). The D/P ratio was the only independent risk factor in multivariate analysis.
Discussion: The incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula correlates significantly with the morphology of the pancreatic transection plane. The risk increases significantly with a D/P ratio of < 0.2.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.