OBJECTIVETo investigate the causes and the measures of prevention and cure of the dangerous complications (bleeding, pancreatic fistula, biliary fistula and death) after radical pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD) for periampullary malignant tumor.

METHODSThe rate and management of dangerous complications of 156 cases with RPD which were continuous performed by Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology between January 2006 and June 2008 were analyzed retrospectively, including 97 males and 59 females with 37 - 79 years old, the mean age was 56.9 years old.

RESULTSAmong the 156 cases with RPD, four patients had massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract due to stress ulcer, two patients had bleeding in the pancreas-intestinal anastomosis after the operation, the rate of postoperative bleeding was 3.9% (6/156). One patient with massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract due to stress ulcer had severe pulmonary infection and ARDS, and died of respiratory failure finally (the overall mortality rate was 0.7%) after ICU for two months. One patients with bleeding in the pancreas-intestinal anastomosis had pancreatic fistula (the rate of pancreatic fistula was 0.7%) 3 days after the second laparotomy to open the jejunum of the pancreas-intestinal anastomosis and make a transfixion of the bleeding points in the stump. Another patient who had the tumor located in the inferior segment of the bile common duct had biliary fistula 11 days after the operation (the rate of biliary fistula was 0.7%). Two patients with fistula had good recovery by expectant treatment of ultrasound-guided puncture and drainage.

CONCLUSIONSPrompt and effective treatment of the complications of bleeding, pancreatic fistula, biliary fistula could maximally decrease the perioperative death rate.