Perioperative hydrocortisone treatment reduces postoperative pancreatic fistula rate after open distal pancreatectomy. A randomized placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is the most common complication after distal pancreatectomy (DP). In a recent RCT on pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), perioperative hydrocortisone (HC) treatment reduced Clavien-Dindo (C-D) III-V complications. The aim of this study was to investigate whether perioperative HC treatment reduces the overall complications and clinically significant POPF after distal pancreatectomy (DP).

Methods: Fourty consecutive patients undergoing DP were randomized to receive intravenous HC 100mg/placebo every eight hours until the second postoperative day. Thirty-one patients were completed with DP and received HC/placebo every 8 h for two days postoperatively. The primary endpoint was overall complications (C-D III-V) and the secondary endpoint was the development of clinically significant POPF.

Results: Pancreatic duct diameter, operative time and blood loss were similar in the groups. Ninety-day mortality was zero. With HC treatment the rates of C-D III-V complications tended to be lower compared to the placebo group (5.9% vs 21.4%, p = 0.034). The rate of grade B/C POPF was significantly reduced with HC treatment compared to the placebo group (5.9% vs. 42.9%, p = 0.028).

Conclusion: Perioperative HC treatment may have a favourable effect on overall major complications after open DP. HC treatment reduces the incidence of clinically significant POPF after open DP.

Keywords: Distal pancreatectomy; Hydrocortisone; Pancreatic fistula.