Late complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy with pancreaticogastrostomy.

Introduction: We investigated complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) reconstruction more than 12 months postoperatively.

Methods: Through chart review and outpatient follow-up, we assessed the incidence of new-onset diabetes mellitus (DM) and steatorrhea after PD.

Results: Ninety patients underwent PD with PG with a median follow-up of 4.7 years (range 0.4-15.8 years). Of the 77 patients without DM preoperatively, 18 (23.4%) developed DM postoperatively. Those who developed DM were younger at time of surgery than those who did not (60.5 versus 65.8 years; p = 0.021), but postoperative survival did not differ between these groups. The incidence of DM was comparable to the incidence of DM in the general population. Out of 89 patients, 47 (52.8%) now require pancreatic enzyme therapy. The group that developed steatorrhea underwent PD at a younger age (61.4 versus 67.0 years; p = 0.029).

Conclusions: Patients that undergo PD at a younger age are more likely to develop DM and steatorrhea than their older counterparts; patients are as likely as the general population, however, to develop DM after PD with PG.