Evaluation of preoperative nutritional variables for prediction of postoperative complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Abstract Background : Perioperative malnutrition reportedly increases the postoperative morbidity and mortality rates after abdominal surgery, including pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). However, few studies have focused on the association between preoperative nutritional variables and the incidence of postoperative complications. The present study aimed to evaluate preoperative nutritional parameter that can predict the incidence of postoperative complications after PD. Methods : A total of 140 consecutive patients underwent PD from May 2012 to April 2015. Preoperative nutritional variables included the body mass index, total lymphocyte count, albumin, total cholesterol, cholinesterase, and transthyretin. The rates of Clavien–Dindo (C-D) grade ≥II complications were evaluated for each nutritional variable. Predictive factors for the incidence of C-D grade ≥II complications were evaluated by assessing preoperative and intraoperative factors. Results : Of the 140 patients, 108 were included in the study after excluding 32 with missing data on the preoperative nutritional variables. A cholinesterase concentration of Conclusions : Low cholinesterase concentrations were significantly associated with a higher incidence of postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing PD. Preoperative nutritional variables can be used as predictors of postoperative complications after PD.