A lack of postoperative complications after pancreatectomy contributes to the long-term survival of patients with pancreatic cancer

Abstract Background /Objectives: The objectives of this study were to identify the factors affecting patients’ survival and the characteristics of five-year survivors of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after pancreatectomy as well as to clarify the correlation between the development of postoperative complications and a five-year survival. Methods A total of 104 patients underwent pancreatectomy for PDAC between April 2005 and March 2013 with curative intent. Patients who survived for more than five years after pancreatectomy were classified as long-term survivors. Sixteen demographic and clinical variables and 10 pathological variables were comprehensively assessed for their associations with the patients’ survival time and long-term survival. Results The presence of preoperative comorbidity (OR: 1.65, 95% CI 1.02–2.67, p = 0.042), postoperative overall complications (OR: 1.78, 95% CI 1.03–3.10, p = 0.041), a lymph node positivity ratio of ≥0.2 (OR: 3.04, 95% CI 1.51–6.11, p = 0.002), and portal invasion (OR: 2.58, 95% CI 1.48–4.49, p = 0.001) were identified as independent factors affecting the patients’ survival. The absence of postoperative overall complications was identified as an independent factor related to long-term survival in the multivariate analysis (OR: 0.08, 95% CI 0.01–0.82, p = 0.034). Conclusions The presence of preoperative comorbidity, postoperative overall complications, LNR ≥0.2, and portal invasion were prognostic factors affecting the patients’ survival, and avoiding postoperative complications after pancreatectomy might contribute to the long-term survival of PDAC patients after pancreatectomy. The further improvement of surgical procedures and perioperative care in order to reduce the rate of postoperative complications should be attempted.