Evaluation of Factors Related to Pancreatic Fistula Development in Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Periampullary Tumours

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with pancreatic fistula (PF) development after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) at our clinic. Methods: Patients who underwent PD for periampullary tumours between 2010 and 2019 were included in the study and categorised into Group I (with PF) and Group II (without PF). The demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, tumour characteristics and post-operative results were compared between the groups. Risk factors for PF were analysed by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: In total, 155 patients participated in the study (Group I: n=31; Group II: n=124). The rate of PF was 20%. The two groups were comparable with regard to sex (p=0.348) and age (64.8 vs 66.9 years, p=0.916). Compared with Group II, Group I had a higher number of metastatic lymph nodes (1.61 vs 0.87, p=0.041), a higher number of post-operative complications (58.1% vs 21.8%, p=0.000) and a longer duration of post-operative hospital stay (25.25 vs 16.43 days, p=0.000). Haemoglobin (p=0.493) and albumin (p=0.698) levels were similar between the groups. Total survival duration was shorter in Group I (23.9 vs 38.18 months, p=0.024). In multivariate analyses, being ≥65 years (p=0.040), tumour localisation (p=0.021), lymph node stage (p=0.008) and performedtumour diameter ≥2 (p=0.021) were the independent risk factors for developing pancreatic fistula. Conclusion: In our study, tumour diameter, patient age and lymph node status were associated with PF development. The development of PF reduced expected survival. We believe that identifying the preoperative, intraoperative and post-operative factors related to PF formation may help decrease its development.