Defining morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy: use of a prospective complication grading system.

BACKGROUND

Improving surgical quality of care requires accurate reporting of postoperative complications.

STUDY DESIGN

Accuracy of a prospective surgical complication grading database was assessed by performing a retrospective review of 204 pancreaticoduodenectomies (PDs) entered into the database from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2003. This updated database was then used to characterize 30-day morbidity and mortality after PD.

RESULTS

On review, 13% of patients had a complication not identified in the prospective complication database, 8% of patients had a complication reclassified, and 4% of patients had a complication removed. At least 1 postoperative complication was experienced by 47% of patients. After PD, 45 different complications occurred. Postoperative mortality at 30 days was 1%, and 30-day readmission rate was 11%. The 30-day reoperation rate was 9%, and 14% of patients required a percutaneous drainage procedure. Pancreatic anastomotic leak (12%), wound infection (11%), and delayed gastric emptying (7%) were the 3 most common postoperative complications, and all were associated with an increased length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Our prospective surgical complication database accurately characterized outcomes after PD and facilitated information gathering and analysis. The accuracy, efficiency, and reproducibility of a prospective surgical complication database favor its widespread use in postoperative complication reporting.