Volume 40, Issue 5 1 pp. 1226-1235
Original Scientific Report

Advantages and Disadvantages of Prophylactic Abdominal Drainage in Distal Pancreatectomy

Suguru Yamashita

Suguru Yamashita

Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

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Takeaki Ishizawa

Takeaki Ishizawa

Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan

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Akihiko Ichida

Akihiko Ichida

Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

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Junichi Kaneko

Junichi Kaneko

Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

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Taku Aoki

Taku Aoki

Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

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Yoshihiro Sakamoto

Yoshihiro Sakamoto

Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

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Yasuhiko Sugawara

Yasuhiko Sugawara

Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

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Kiyoshi Hasegawa

Kiyoshi Hasegawa

Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

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Norihiro Kokudo

Corresponding Author

Norihiro Kokudo

Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Tel.: +81-3-3815-5411, [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
First published: 14 January 2016
Citations: 18

Electronic supplementary material: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00268-015-3399-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Abstract

Background

A method to completely prevent postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF) in distal pancreatectomy (DP) is lacking. Hence, prophylactic abdominal drains could be used to prevent PF from developing into life-threatening complications.

Methods

In 152 consecutive patients undergoing DP, three drains were placed routinely toward the pancreatic stump, supra-pancreatic space, and left subphrenic space. Abdominal drains were removed after surgery gradually based on amylase levels and positivity for bacterial infection in abdominal fluids.

Results

Postoperative symptomatic PF occurred in 57 of 152 patients (37.5 %). Prevalence of severe postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo grade ≥IIIa) was 16 %, with surgery-associated mortality observed in one patient (0.7 %). Prevalence of infection in drained abdominal fluids increased gradually and was >10 % on postoperative day (POD)-7. Severe postoperative complications led to longer postoperative hospital stays and higher treatment costs. Multivariate analyses revealed that a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2, serum albumin level ≤3.8 g/dL, and white blood cell count at POD-3 ≥15,000/μL were independent predictors for development of severe postoperative complications.

Conclusion

Use of prophylactic abdominal drains in DP seems to be effective for preventing PF from developing into fatal complications. However, definitive criteria should be established for enhancing safety and cost efficiency of DP through selective use and early removal of prophylactic drains.

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