BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to present data from 41 patients submitted to pancreaticoduodenectomies at the HGIP - IPSEMG, in Belo Horizonte, MG. METHODS: From 1997 to 2004, 41 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy as treatment for neoplasms. Data regarding the operative procedure were collected prospectively. The main operation was the classical Whipple procedure. Pylorous-preserving procedures were not used routinely. The pancreaticojejunostomy was performed in a duct-to-mucosa fashion. Postoperative mortality and complications were analyzed. To assess the differences in outcome with the increasing experience of the surgical staff, the study was divided in two periods of four years each: from 1997 to 2000, and from 2001 to 2004. RESULTS: Postoperative complications occurred in 58% of the patients, with a 22% mortality rate. The most frequent complications were pneumonia and surgical wound infection. Four patients (10%) developed pancreatic fistulas, which were all treated successfully employing a conservative approach. The need for intra-operative blood transfusion was associated with a worse prognosis. There was a trend toward less complications and deaths between 2001 and 2004, not statistically significant. The 5-year survival rate was 35% for all patients and 26% when considering only those with adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas. CONCLUSION: Pancreaticoduodenectomy is a complex surgical procedure with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, with the increasing experience of surgical, anesthetical, and intensive care staff a reduction in the frequency of complications is noted.
Duodenum; Pancreatectomy; Digestive system neoplasms; Postoperative Complications; Outcome assessment
