Serum pancreatic enzymes in the early postoperative period predict complications associated with pancreatic fluid after pancreas transplantation: A retrospective, single‐center, observational cohort study

BACKGROUND Pancreas transplantation (PT) is a radical treatment for diabetes mellitus (DM). Although the results of PT have been improving, surgical complications remain. Few reports have focused on complications associated with pancreatic fluid (CAPF) after PT. We aimed to investigate the risk factors and predictors for CAPF after PT. METHODS Sixty-nine patients, who underwent deceased-donor PT for type 1 DM at our institution from August 2001 to May 2020, were retrospectively studied. We identified CAPF from those with Clavien-Dindo Classification ≥grade III and assessed risk factors by univariate and multivariate analyses using logistic regression. RESULTS Twenty-one (30.4%) patients had complications with Clavien-Dindo Classification ≥grade III. Eleven (16.0%) patients were diagnosed with CAPF. Median serum pancreatic amylase (P-AMY) levels with CAPF on postoperative day (POD)1 and POD2 were significantly higher than those without CAPF (P = .019 and P = .027, respectively). In multivariable analysis, serum P-AMY levels on POD1 were an independent predictive factor for CAPF (odds ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.07-3.14, P = .008). CONCLUSIONS Complications associated with pancreatic fluid after PT is associated with high serum P-AMY in the early postoperative period. Serum pancreatic enzymes in the first few postoperative days after PT may be a significant predictive factor for CAPF.