title: Standards of pancreaticoduodenectomy in a tertiary referral centre in Hong Kong: retrospective case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the perioperative outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy in a tertiary referral centre in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  University teaching hospital, Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy from July 1989 through June 2001.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mortality and morbidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall hospital mortality among 140 patients was 2.9% (n=4), and 30-day operative mortality was 2.1% (n=3). There was no significant difference in the hospital mortality rate between 43 elderly patients aged 70 years or older and 97 younger patients (2.3% versus 3.1%). The overall morbidity rate was 38.6% (n=54). Intra-abdominal abscess (13.6%) and pancreaticojejunal anastomotic leakage (12.9%) were the two most common complications. Presence of co-morbid illness (risk ratio, 2.823; 95% confidence interval, 1.541-4.385; P=0.01), preoperative cholangitis (risk ratio, 2.565; 95% confidence interval, 1.166-5.643; P=0.02), and intra-operative blood loss >/=1.5 L (risk ratio, 2.236; 95% confidence interval, 1.132-6.213; P=0.03) were independent risk factors for postoperative morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pancreaticoduodenectomy is associated with a low risk of operative death when performed in a tertiary referral setting in Hong Kong. The postoperative morbidity rate remains high, however. Further improvement by reducing intra-operative blood loss may help curtail the high postoperative morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: R T P
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: J T C
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies