title: Morbidity, mortality, and technical factors of distal pancreatectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pancreatic leak is a major source of morbidity associated with pancreatic surgery. We sought to identify disease and technique-dependent factors associated with morbidity and mortality after distal pancreatectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy during a 5-year period. Clinical, technical, and pathologic data were correlated with operative morbidity or mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one patients underwent distal pancreatectomy for primary pancreatic disease, extrapancreatic malignancy, or trauma. Overall perioperative mortality and morbidity rates were 4% and 47%, respectively. Pancreatic leak was the most common complication, occurring in 26% of patients. Overall complications and pancreatic leaks occurred more often after distal pancreatectomy for trauma and in patients with a sutured pancreatic stump closure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distal pancreatectomy can be performed with a low rate of mortality, though pancreatic leak is a common cause of morbidity. The urgency of the procedure and the method of pancreatic stump closure may influence postoperative morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Bridget N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Fahy
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Hung S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beckett
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bold
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality*; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis