Modification of a new subclassification of Grade B postoperative pancreatic fistula: A bicenter retrospective cohort study

Aim To propose a modified subclassification of grade B postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) based on management approaches in Chinese patients. Methods Data of consecutive pancreatoduodenectomy at two hospitals in China from 2013 to 2018 were collected, and outcomes were compared across different groups of POPF. Subclassification of B-POPF was made based on intervention to B1: non-interventional subclass and B2: interventional subclass. Results A total of 142 of 522 patients had biochemical leaks (BLs) (27.2%), and POPFs developed in 106 of 522 patients (20.3%), with 81 B-POPFs (15.5%) and 25 C-POPFs (4.8%). BL did not differ from the non-fistula condition in almost all outcomes. The differences of outcomes among the non-fistula/BL, B-POPF and C-POPF groups were significant. The prevalence of subclass B1 and B2 was 56.8% (46/81) and 43.2% (35/81), respectively. Compared to the B1 group, patients in the B2 group had worse outcomes, such as post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage (15.2% vs 34.3%,P = .045), biliary fistula (13.0% vs 34.3%,P = .023), postoperative hospital stay (32 vs 39 days,P = .011), and cost ($US28 601.0 vs $US39 314.5,P < .001). Conclusion The recently reported B-POPF subclassification method was modified in Chinese patients according to the intervention, and is more practical, simpler and fits Chinese patients.

Automated summary

This study aims to propose a modified subclassification of grade B postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) in Chinese patients based on management approaches. The results showed that there were two subtypes of B-POPF: B1 (non-interventional subclass) and B2 (interventional subclass), with B2 patients having worse outcomes compared to B1 patients in terms of postoperative complications and recovery.