World journal of surgery
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World journal of surgery · May 2003
Does drainage fluid amylase reflect pancreatic leakage after pancreaticoduodenectomy?
This study tried to determine if drainage fluid amylase reflects pancreatic leakage after pancreaticoduodenectomy and to determine the factors affecting the drainage amylase level. Patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy were recruited. The drainage amylase was measured from postoperative day (POD) 1 to POD 7. ⋯ Only one case of pancreatic leakage with a small amount of drainage fluid (10 ml) and low amylase level (74 U/L), was noted. Soft pancreatic parenchyma and a nondilated pancreatic duct were significantly associated with higher drainage amylase levels. In conclusion, biochemical leakage defined by amylase-rich drainage fluid might have no clinical significance and was not necessarily clinical pancreatic leakage following pancreaticoduodenectomy.