Should we be reluctant to perform pancreatectomy in patients with chronic liver disease? A single center 10-year experience

Abstract

Purpose

Many studies have shown extra-hepatic surgery in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) with or without portal hypertension can result in complications. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of major pancreatectomy in patients with CLD including cirrhosis and to evaluate their efficacy and safety.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 319 patients undergoing open pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) or distal pancreatectomy (DP) in our center. Those who received PD and DP in patients without CLD were classified into groups A and D, and those with CLD into groups B and C, respectively. Group B and C were subdivided into groups 1 and 2 according to the presence of portal hypertension.

Results

Forty-three patients (13.5%) had CLD. Of the 221 patients who received PD, 25 had CLD. Of the 98 patients who received DP, 18 (Group C) had CLD. In the PD group, patients with portal hypertension (group B1) had longer operative time. However, the transfusion rate and complication rate were not significantly different from other groups. There was no mortality in patients with CLD without portal hypertension (group B2) and the complication and mortality rate was comparable to patients with normal liver function (group A). In the DP group, the transfusion rate, complication rate and mortality rate were significantly higher in patients with portal hypertension (group C1).

Conclusions

Acceptable outcomes were obtainable following pancreatic surgery in cirrhotic, non-portal hypertensive patients with surgical outcomes equivalent to non-cirrhotic patients.

Abbreviations
CLD	=	chronic liver disease
PD	=	pancreaticoduodenectomy
DP	=	distal pancreatectomy

Keywords:

• Chronic liver disease
• cirrhosis
• pancreatectomy
• morbidity
• mortality

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.