title: The risk of pancreaticointestinal anastomosis can be predicted preoperatively.
abstract: The risk of developing postoperative complications following pancreatic resection depends mainly on how difficult it is to perform a proper pancreaticointestinal anastomosis. We have evaluated the serum pancreolauryl test, a rapid tubeless pancreatic function test, as a simple preoperative predictor of the degree of pancreatic fibrosis. Degree of fibrosis in turn provides an indirect parameter for the difficulties of performing a proper and safe pancreaticointestinal anastomosis. In 35 patients (21 chronic pancreatitis, 14 pancreatic tumors) undergoing major pancreatic resection, we found a negative correlation (r = -0.75, p < 0.001) between the degree of fibrosis at the resection margin and the serum pancreolauryl test results. Patients with chronic pancreatitis had a significantly higher degree of fibrosis at the resection margin (59 +/- 22 vs. 34 +/- 25%; X +/- SD; p < 0.01) and lower fluorescein serum concentrations (2.6 +/- 1.9 vs. 4.3 +/- 2.1 micrograms/ml; X +/- SD; p < 0.01) in comparison with patients with pancreatic tumors. These findings indicate that the degree of pancreatic fibrosis, the difficulties of performing a proper pancreaticointestinal anastomosis, and subsequently the potential risk of postoperative complications can easily be predicted preoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friess
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malfertheiner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isenmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kühne
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Beger
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Büchler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; C034833:fluorescein dilaurate