Fifty consecutive pancreatectomies without mortality.
OBJECTIVE
to report the group's experience with a series of patients undergoing pancreatic resection presenting null mortality rates.


METHODS
we prospectively studied 50 consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic resections for peri-ampullary or pancreatic diseases. Main local complications were defined according to international criteria. In-hospital mortality was defined as death occurring in the first 90 postoperative days.


RESULTS
patients' age ranged between 16 and 90 years (average: 53.3). We found anemia (Hb < 12g/dl) and preoperative jaundice in 38% and 40% of cases, respectively. Most patients presented with peri-ampullary tumors (66%). The most common surgical procedure was the Kausch - Whipple operation (70%). Six patients (12%) needed to undergo resection of a segment of the mesenteric-portal axis. The mean operative time was 445.1 minutes. Twenty two patients (44%) showed no clinical complications and presented mean hospital stay of 10.3 days. The most frequent complications were pancreatic fistula (56%), delayed gastric emptying (17.1%) and bleeding (16%).


CONCLUSIONS
within the last three decades, pancreatic resection is still considered a challenge, especially outside large specialized centers. Nevertheless, even in our country (Brazil), teams seasoned in such procedure can reach low mortality rates.
Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil.
Enio Campos
EC
Amico
Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil.
Élio José Silveira da Silva
ÉJ
Barreto
Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil.
José Roberto
JR
Alves
Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil.
Samir Assi
SA
João
Liga Norte Riograndense Contra o Câncer, Natal, RN, Brasil.
Priscila Luana Franco Costa
PL
Guimarães
Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil.
Joafran Alexandre Costa de
JA
Medeiros
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult