Pancreatic fistula is a potentially morbid complication after distal pancreatectomy. Chronic glucocorticoid use is one of the risk factors for pancreatic fistula in pancreaticoduodenectomy, though it has not been reported in distal pancreatectomy. We explored whether chronic glucocorticoid use can be a risk factor for pancreatic fistula in distal pancreatectomy. We reviewed 408 consecutive patients who underwent elective distal pancreatectomy from 2011 to 2021. We evaluated two kinds of pancreatic fistula (postoperative pancreatic fistula and delayed pancreatic fistula). We defined delayed pancreatic fistula as a patient who was re-admitted for pancreatic fistula after the first discharge from the hospital. Preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Two hundred sixty-seven patients underwent open distal pancreatectomy, while 141 patients had laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. A comparison of patient with and without chronic glucocorticoid use showed that only patients with chronic glucocorticoid use developed delayed pancreatic fistula (0% vs. 16.7%; p < 0.001). In addition, delayed pancreatic fistula occurred in only laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy patients with chronic glucocorticoid use (0% vs. 25.0%; p < 0.001). Although sample size is small, it is reasonable to presume that chronic glucocorticoid use is a potential risk factor for delayed pancreatic fistula in laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy.
Keywords: chronic glucocorticoid use; delayed pancreatic fistula; distal pancreatectomy; laparoscopic surgery; postoperative complication.