Pancreatic fistula epidemiology and demographics

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Overview

The incidence of pancreatic fistula following pancreatic resection surgery varies from 5% to 26%. The overall mortality risk due to pancreatic fistula is 1%, however patients with grade C pancreatic fistula carries a mortality risk of 25%.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Pancreatic fistula is a known complication following surgical resection of the pancreas.
The incidence rate varies from as low as 5% in high volume centers to as high as 26%.^[1]
The incidence of pancreatic fistula varies depending on the type of pancreatic resection as it can be as low as 3% following a pancreatic head resection to as high as 30% after distal pancreatectomy.^[2]^[3]
Acute fluid collection is recorded in up to 40% patients with acute pancreatitis, out of which some cases develops true pancreatic fistula depending upon the severity of the insult.^[4]

Pancreatic fistula can lead to certain severe complications if not addressed on time, as it carries a mortality risk of 25% in patients with grade C pancreatic fistula.
Post-operative pancreatic fistulae can affect 13% to 41% of patients after pancreatic resection, making it a known source of morbidity and mortality.

References

Overview