title: Risk factors for surgical complications in distal pancreatectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pancreatic fistula (PF) represents a major complication after distal pancreatectomy. In a consecutive series of 110 patients, risk factors for the incidence of PF and surgical morbidity were identified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients having undergone distal pancreatectomy between 2003 and 2007 were identified. Clinicopathologic parameters as well as perioperative data were correlated with the incidence of PF and overall surgical morbidity using univariate and multivariate models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 72 patients (65%), malignant disease was present. Splenectomy and multivisceral resection were performed in 84 (76%) and 47 (42%) patients, respectively. Overall major surgical morbidity was 18%, and 12 patients (11%) developed PFs. A body mass index > 25 kg/m(2) was the only independent significant predictive factor for PF. Malignancy, splenectomy, multivisceral resection, transfusion, comorbidity, and stapler use did not show statistical significance. For overall surgical morbidity, there was no significant indicator.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A body mass index > 25 kg/m(2) contributes to the incidence of PF after distal pancreatectomy. Other parameters did not show a significant influence on PF or on overall surgical morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Munich University Medical Center, Germany. hendrik.seeliger@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seeliger
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Christians
authors.forename: Martin K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Angele
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kleespies
authors.forename: Martin E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Eichhorn
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ischenko
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boeck
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.forename: Karl-Walter
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Jauch
authors.forename: Christiane J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bruns
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013156:Splenectomy