Changes in Morbidity After Pancreatic Resection

Abstract

PANCREATIC SURGERY has changed substantially during the past 20 years. Pancreatic resection remains an intervention of particular significance, often technically challenging and with logistic demands for preoperative diagnostics and perioperative management. Recently, the value of centralization of pancreatic surgery in high-volume institutions has been demonstrated.^1-4 The current mortality rate after pancreatic resection is less than 5%^5-10 in specialized surgical centers, which is significantly lower than that in units with a low frequency of pancreatic surgery.¹¹ Pancreatic anastomosis was long considered to be the critical step in pancreatic surgery, and it represented the main cause of morbidity and death. At a center for pancreatic surgery in Switzerland, we conducted a prospective audit with special attention to the recording of specific surgical and systemic morbidity after pancreatic resections. The aim of this study is to report a single center's experience with a high caseload during an 8-year period.