Major intraoperative bleeding during pancreatoduodenectomy - preoperative biliary drainage is the only modifiable risk factor

Background: Pancreatoduodenectomy is associated with a high risk of complications. The aim was to identify preoperative risk factors for major intraoperative bleeding. Methods: Patients registered for pancreatoduodenectomy in the Swedish National Pancreatic and Periampullary Cancer Registry, 2011 to 2016, were included. Major intraoperative bleeding was defined as ≥1000 ml. Univariable and multivariable analysis of preoperative parameters were performed. Results: In total, 1864 patients were included. The median blood loss was 600 ml, and 502 patients (27%) had registered bleeding of ≥1000 ml. Preoperative independent risk factors associated with major bleeding were male sex (p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m² (p < 0.001), preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) (p < 0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥12 mg/L (p = 0.006) and neo-adjuvant chemotherapy treatment (NAT) (p = 0.002). Postoperative intensive care (p < 0.001), reoperation (p = 0.035), surgical infections (p = 0.036), and bile leakage (p = 0.045) were more common in the group with major bleeding, and the 30-day mortality was higher (4.9% vs 1.6%; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Most predictive parameters for major intraoperative bleeding are not modifiable. PBD is an independent predictor for major intraoperative bleeding and to reduce the risk, patients with resectable periampullary tumors should, if possible, be subject to surgery without preoperative biliary drainage.