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Utility of Drain Fluid Amylase Measurement on the First Postoperative Day after Pancreaticoduodenectomy

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Abstract

Background

Early detection of pancreatic fistula (PF) may improve the outcome after pancreaticoduodenectomy, and exclusion of PF may allow earlier drain removal and accelerate recovery. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between drain fluid amylase on the first postoperative day (DFA1) and PF.

Patients and methods

This work was designed as a prospective study and included patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy in a single center. For each patient, DFA was measured on the first and fifth postoperative days, and PF was defined by drainage of amylase-rich fluid on the fifth postoperative day (DFA5 >300 U/l). A cut-off value of DFA1 was derived, which yielded sensitivity and negative predictive value of 100% for predicting a PF.

Results

A total of 70 patients (47% male) who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure: 37; pylorus-preserving procedure: 33) between April 2009 and March 2010 were included. Nine of those patients developed a PF (grade A-2; B-5; C-2). There were two postoperative deaths (3%). The DFA1 value significantly correlated with DFA5 (Spearman rank coefficient 0.68; p < 0.0001). The median DFA1 of patients with a PF (6,205; range 357–23,391) was significantly higher than in patients without a PF (69; range 5–5,180; p = 0.01; unpaired t test). No patient with a PF had a DFA1 ≤350 U/l, compared to 48/61 patients (79%) without a PF. Using 350 U/l as a cut-off, a low DFA1 excluded a PF with a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 100, 79, 41, and 100%, respectively.

Conclusions

Drain fluid amylase on the DFA1 after pancreaticoduodenectomy stratifies patients according to likelihood of developing a PF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liver Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 3rd Floor, Nuffield House, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK

    Robert P. Sutcliffe & Narendra Battula

  2. Institute of Liver Studies, King’s College Hospital, London, UK

    Ali Haque, Amir Ali, Parthi Srinivasan, Simon W. Atkinson, Mohamed Rela, Nigel D. Heaton & Andreas A. Prachalias

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  1. Robert P. Sutcliffe
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  2. Narendra Battula
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  3. Ali Haque
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  4. Amir Ali
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  5. Parthi Srinivasan
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  6. Simon W. Atkinson
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  7. Mohamed Rela
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  8. Nigel D. Heaton
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  9. Andreas A. Prachalias
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Correspondence to Robert P. Sutcliffe.

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Sutcliffe, R.P., Battula, N., Haque, A. et al. Utility of Drain Fluid Amylase Measurement on the First Postoperative Day after Pancreaticoduodenectomy. World J Surg 36, 879–883 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-012-1460-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-012-1460-0

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