ABSTRACT
BACKGROUNDS: Pancreaticoduodenectomy has been applied to diseases of periampullary region since 1935 by Whipple and associates, but this procedure is so complexed that associated with high morbidity and mortality. In the treatment of periampullary cancer, curative surgical resection only promises the possibilities of cure, because other methods of treatment including chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been of little or no benefit to improve the survival rate. METHODS: We performed the clinical analysis on 123 cases of pancreaticoduodenectomies at the department of Surgery, Chonnam University Hospital, during the past 11 years from June 1986 to May 1997 to assess the associated factors with postoperative complications and the survival rate. RESULTS: Among 123 cases, 104 cases(84.6%) were malignant tumor of periampullary region, 16 cases were benign lesion, and 3 cases were type IV pancreatic injury. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in 115 cases, pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy in 4 cases, total pancreatectomy in 2 cases and extended pancreaticoduodenectomy in 2 cases. Postoperative complications were developed in 28 cases(22.8%) and the major cause of postoperative complication was the anastomotic leakage, especially in the pancreatico-jejunostomy site. The overall operative and hospital mortality rate was 7.3%. Preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD) and the serum level of albumin and bilirubin were not related to the development of postoperative complications. Factors affecting survival after resection of malignant tumor were the size of tumor, presence of lymph node metastasis and tumor infiltration to adjacent tissue, but the level of CEA, alphaFP, and CA 19-9 and tumor differentiation were not related to the survival rate statistically. CONCLUSION: Optimal preoperative preparation of the patient and a meticulous and standarized operative technique are mandatory to minimize the operative morbidity and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy. In the treatment of periampullary cancer, radical surgical resection is recommended for long-term survival, as well as the development of other treatment modalities to prevent the postoperative recurrence.