Influence of bile contamination for patients who undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy after biliary drainage

BACKGROUND: The influence of bile contamination on the infectious complications of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has not been thoroughly evaluated. AIM: To evaluate the effect of preoperative biliary drainage and bile contamination on the outcomes of patients who undergo PD. METHODS: The database of 4101 patients who underwent PD was reviewed. Preoperative biliary drainage was performed in 1964 patients (47.9%), and bile contamination was confirmed in 606 patients (14.8%). RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative infectious complications was 37.9% in patients with preoperative biliary drainage and 42.4% in patients with biliary contamination, respectively. Patients with extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma, ampulla of Vater carcinoma, and pancreatic carcinoma had a high frequency of preoperative biliary drainage (82.9%, 54.6%, and 50.8%) and bile contamination (34.3%, 26.2%, and 20.2%). Bile contamination was associated with postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) Grade B/C, wound infection, and catheter infection. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that biliary contamination (odds ratio 1.33, P = 0.027) was the independent risk factor for POPF Grade B/C. The three most commonly cultured microorganisms from bile (Enterococcus, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter) were identical to those isolated from organ spaces. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing PD, bile contamination is related to postoperative infectious complication including POPF Grade B/C. The management of biliary contamination should be standardised for patients who require preoperative biliary drainage for PD, as the main microorganisms are identical in both organ spaces and bile.