Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Feb 2003
Comparative StudyPancreaticoduodenectomy: role of interventional radiologists in managing patients and complications.
Although the mortality rate after pancreaticoduodenectomy has decreased, the morbidity rate remains high. Major morbidity is often managed with the aid of interventional radiologists. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cooperative roles of interventional radiologists and pancreatic surgeons in complex pancreatic surgery, specifically pancreaticoduodenectomy. ⋯ The median postoperative length of stay was 15 days in those patients requiring postoperative radiologic intervention, 10 days in those not requiring intervention (P < 0.01; postoperative interventional radiology vs. no postoperative interventional radiology), and 29.5 days for patients needing reoperation. Interventional radiologists play a critical role in the management of some patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. Although complications such as anastomotic leaks, abscess formation, and bleeding can result in increased mortality and a longer hospital stay, the skills of the interventional radiology team provide expert management of some life-threatening complications, thus avoiding reoperation, speeding recovery times, and minimizing morbidity.