Morphometry of adipose tissue for prediction of the outcomes of total pancreatectomy with pancreatic islets autotransplantation in patients with chronic pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE To compare different clinical and morphometric features of patients undergoing TPAIT for prediction of postoperative outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective review enrolled patients who underwent TPAIT for the period from January 2007 to October 2017. Morphometric parameters were analyzed using preoperative CT scans and patients were grouped to examine association of these characteristics with postoperative morbidity. Sarcopenia was defined as the presence of a TPA in the lowest sex-specific quartile. The impact of sarcopenia on pancreatic islet features, perioperative blood transfusion, ICU- and hospital-stay, complications, repeated admission within 90 days and islet function was assessed. RESULTS A total of 34 patients were included in this study (12 males and 24 females). At the time of diagnosis, mean age of patients was 43.1 years. Mean body mass index (BMI) in sarcopenic patients was 24.9 kg/m2, mean BMI in those without sarcopenia - 24.8 kg/m2 (p=1.00). Various surgical complications were observed in 11 patients (32.3%). Patients with sarcopenia experienced more complications (83.3%) compared with patients without sarcopenia (50%). However, differences were not significant (p=0.31). Islet characteristics (islet numbers, purity), readmission, ICU- and hospital-stay, incidence of blood transfusion and islet function were also similar in both groups. CONCLUSION Sarcopenia is not a predictor of postoperative complications and islet cell function in chronic pancreatitis patients following TPAIT.