Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple´s procedure) offers the only potential cure for patients with tumor in the head of the pancreas, bile duct or periampullary region. This procedure is associated with high perioperative and postoperative mortality and morbidity. Postoperative pancreatic fistulae (POPF) is the most feared complication, and is often discovered with significant delay resulting in development of organ dysfunction and sepsis. Current standard for clinical detection of POPF is limited and nonspecific.
Microdialysis catheters allow bedside measurements of metabolism such as lactate, pyruvate, glucose and glycerol. The method has a high sensitivity and specificity in detecting complications in several types of abdominal surgery. However, microdialysis used after pancreaticoduodenectomy is not well documented. This observational study examine if monitoring with microdialysis catheters can detect anastomotic leakage after pancreaticoduodenectomy earlier than current standard of care.
