Characterization of Pancreatic Fistula After Post-pancreatectomy Acute Pancreatitis

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance and risk factors of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after post-pancreatectomy acute pancreatitis (PPAP) in patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Background: PPAP has been recognized as a critical factor in the pathophysiology of POPF after PD. Methods: A total of 817 consecutive patients who underwent elective PD between January 2020 and June 2022 were included. PPAP and POPF were defined in accordance with the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) definitions. Multivariate logistic analyses were performed to investigate the risk factors for POPF. Comparisons between PPAP-associated POPF and non-PPAP–associated POPF were made to further characterize this intriguing complication. Results: Overall, 159 (19.5%) patients developed POPF after PD, of which 73 (45.9%) occurred following PPAP, and the remaining 86 (54.1%) had non-PPAP–associated POPF. Patients with PPAP-associated POPF experienced significantly higher morbidity than patients without POPF. Multivariate analyses revealed distinct risk factors for each POPF type. For PPAP-associated POPF, independent risk factors included estimated blood loss >200 mL (OR: 1.93), main pancreatic duct ≤3 cm (OR: 2.88), and soft pancreatic texture (OR: 2.01), largely overlapping with fistula risk score elements. On the other hand, non-PPAP–associated POPF was associated with age >65 years (OR: 1.95), male (OR: 2.10), and main pancreatic duct ≤3 cm (OR: 2.57). Notably, among patients with PPAP, the incidence of POPF consistently hovered around 50% regardless of the fistula risk score stratification. Conclusions: PPAP-associated POPF presents as a distinct pathophysiology in the development of POPF after PD, potentially opening doors for future prevention strategies targeting the early postoperative period.