Abstract
BACKGROUND: Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) is a severe complication in pancreatic surgery. This study focused on early PPH (E-PPH), aiming to identify its characteristics, evaluate the existing grading criteria by the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS), and explore effective treatment strategies. METHODS: Patients undergoing pancreatic surgery between March 2020 and January 2024 in two institutions were screened from prospectively maintained databases. Patients with E-PPH were divided into intervention group and the conservative group. The sites of hemorrhage were determined and categorized. Clinical presentation and outcomes were compared among different grades and interventions. RESULTS: Among 4062 patients who underwent pancreatic surgery, 113 cases of E-PPH were identified, with an incidence of 2.8%. E-PPH was more concentrated within 24 h (76.2%) and occurred more extraluminally (78.2%). The intervention group had a higher proportion of hemodynamic instability (40.9%) and ICU stays (54.5%). E-PPH in the mesenteric region was more common in pancreaticoduodenectomy (81.9%) and open surgery (90.9%). Branches of the common hepatic artery and superior mesenteric vessel were the majority responsible vessels. Appropriate E-PPH treatment was effective, with successful hemostasis in all intervention cases. The occurrence of ICU admission, the length of ICU and postoperative hospital stay and 90-day mortality were not significantly different between different grades with intervention. CONCLUSION: Appropriate therapy for E-PPH could lead to a favorable prognosis. The current definitions and grades for PPH are inadequate and require further modification.