Pancreatic Surgery: Management of Complications

The risk of complications after pancreatic surgery is high, affecting nearly 30% to 50% of patients. Pancreatic leak and fistula (POPF), hemorrhage (PPH), delayed gastric emptying (DGE), and acute pancreatitis (PPAP) are common complications reported after pancreatectomy. Pancreatic leak is defined as any measurable volume of drain fluid on or after postoperative day 3 with an amylase level more than three times the upper limit of institutional serum amylase. PPH occurs in 1–8% of pancreatic resections and accounts for 11–38% of deaths. DGE is defined as the need to continue the nasogastric tube drainage and/or failure to resume oral intake beyond postoperative days three and seven, respectively.