Usefulness of Drain Lipase to Predict Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula After Distal Pancreatectomy

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after distal pancreatectomy (DP) is a worrisome and life-threatening complication. The aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors and to find the early detective method of POPF after DP. From January 2010 through December 2014, 37 patients underwent DP and were enrolled in this study to examine the factors predictive of clinical POPF after DP. POPF was defined and classified according to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery guideline 2016. Biochemical leakage occurred in 14 (37.8%) patients, grade B POPF in 16 (43.2%) patients, and no grade C POPF in any patient. Clinical POPF (grade B/C) occurred in 43.2% of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed pancreatic thickness ≥ 14 mm to be the independent preoperative risk factors predictive of POPF. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the drain lipase ≥ 800 IU/L on postoperative day 4 could distinguish clinical POPF from non-clinical POPF effectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 93.8%, 70.0%, and 80.6% respectively. Pancreatic thickness ≥ 14 mm was the independent preoperative predictive risk factors for POPF. A drain lipase level of ≥800 IU/L on POD 4 was useful to find clinical POPF after DP.