Are there preoperative factors related to a “soft pancreas” and are they predictive of pancreatic fistulas after pancreatic resection?

Purpose Soft pancreatic parenchyma is the most widely recognized risk factor for pancreatic fistula. We conducted this study to clarify if there are preoperative factors related to a soft pancreatic remnant and to establish if they are useful for predicting pancreatic fistula. Methods This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent pancreatic resections at the Department of Surgical Sciences of the S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy. The factors considered were sex, age, co-morbidities, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, characteristics of the pancreatic remnant, and preoperative diagnosis. Results Data from 208 patients were recorded. The risk factors predictive of a soft pancreatic remnant were BMI >24 kg/m 2 ( P = 0.011), a Wirsung duct size ≤3 mm ( P