Surgical complications of pancreatectomy for persistent hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia of infancy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to review the surgical complications of pancreatectomy for persistent hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia of infancy (PHHI).

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients undergoing pancreatectomy for PHHI in one institution over the past 13 years.

Results: The records of 48 patients were reviewed; the age at operation ranged from 10 days to 30 months (median, 8 weeks). Weight at operation ranged from 1.97 to 11.4 kg (median, 5.2 kg). There were no deaths. Intraoperative complications comprised bleeding in 7, (major in 2), splenic injury in one, bile duct injury in 2 (1 oversewn, 1 choledochoduodenostomy), and 1 small bowel injury. Postoperatively, 5 children underwent choledochoduodenostomy: 2 for biliary leak and 3 for delayed bile duct stricture. Other postoperative complications included wound infection (n = 3), prolonged ileus (n = 1) and adhesion obstruction (n = 1), and wound leakage (n = 1). Renal failure developed in one child owing to acute tubular necrosis. Nine patients required further pancreatic resection because of continued hypoglycaemia. Three patients continued to require medication for hyperinsulinism despite surgery, 20 required insulin, and 13 required pancreatic enzyme replacement at the time of the last review.

Conclusions: Pancreatectomy resulted in resolution of hyperinsulinism in 45 of 48 patients. Sixteen patients required no further surgery or medication. Pancreatectomy for PHHI may be associated with major intra and postoperative morbidity.