Positive drain fluid culture on postoperative day one is associated with an increased risk of late postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the risk factors for late postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), with a focus on positive drain fluid culture (DFC) results on postoperative day (POD) 1.

METHODS

Medical records of 198 patients who underwent PD with drain fluid amylase (DFA) on POD 5 < 3x upper limit of normal (ULN) were included. Late POPF was defined as POPF diagnosed post-POD 6, with DFA on POD 5 < 3xULN. Risk factors analyses were performed, with a focus on DFC on POD 1.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients (9.6%) were diagnosed with late POPF. Age > 65 years (OR: 4.019, P = 0.034) and positive DFC on POD 1 (OR: 10.151, P < 0.001) were identified as independent predictors of late POPF. Patients with positive DFC on POD 1 (n = 25) had higher rates of late POPF (44% vs. 4.6%, P < 0.001), postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (20% vs. 5.8%, P = 0.027) and Clavien-Dindo ≥ IIIa complications (44% vs. 6.4%, P < 0.001). The majority of patients (57.9%) with late POPF had positive DFC on POD 1 (11 of 19, 57.9%). The isolates from 11 patients with positive DFC on POD 1 yielded 12 microorganisms, the most prevalent of which were Enterobacter (n = 7), followed by Enterococcus (n = 3) and Staphylococcus (n = 2). Cefmetazole resistance was detected in 66.7% (8 of 12) of the microorganisms.

CONCLUSION

Age > 65 years and positive DFC on POD 1 were independent predictors of late POPF after PD. Positive DFC on POD 1 was associated with a higher rate of complications.