title: Hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis following posterior spinal surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative pancreatitis has primarily been reported as a complication of abdominal surgery, but there are some case reports of postoperative pancreatitis after spinal surgery. The objective of this study was to investigate a case series of hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis following posterior spinal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The serum amylase level was measured following posterior spinal surgery in the prone position. Patients were divided into groups with a normal serum amylase level (0-125 IU/L) and with hyperamylasemia (>125 IU/L), based on the upper limit of normal of 125 IU/L in our institution. Relationships among preoperative factors, perioperative factors, and the serum amylase level were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hyperamylasemia (serum amylase >125 IU/L) following posterior spinal surgery was found in 92 cases (35 %). Among perioperative factors, intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL) and operating time were significantly higher in patients with high serum amylase than in patients with normal serum amylase (P < 0.01). In a multivariate regression model, intraoperative EBL (OR 1.001, 95 % CI 1.000-1.002; P = 0.001) and operation time (OR 1.006, 95 % CI 1.003-1.009; P = 0.006) were significantly associated with postoperative pancreatitis. Serum amylase levels of ≥ 5 times the upper limit of normal were found in six cases. Five of these cases were asymptomatic and one was caused by severe pancreatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our case series, intraoperative blood loss caused a rise in the serum amylase level following posterior spinal surgery. Thus, this level should be carefully monitored after spinal surgery with significant blood loss. Clinical symptoms of pancreatitis, such as abdominal pain and vomiting, should also be monitored following spinal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan. imagama@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imagama
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan.
authors.forename: Zenya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shinjo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hida
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenyu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimoto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D034321:Hyperamylasemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D061646:Operative Time; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate