Incidence, clinical features, and risk factors for acute pancreatitis following posterior instrumented fusion surgery for lumbar degenerative disease: a single-center, retrospective analysis of 20,929 patients

PurposeThe aim of this study is to identify the incidence, clinical features, and risk factors for postoperative acute pancreatitis (PAP) after lumbar surgery.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed patients who developed PAP after posterior lumbar fusion surgery. For each PAP patient, data were collected for four controls who underwent procedures in the same period and did not develop PAP. Statistical methods included univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsTotally, 21 out of 20,929 patients were diagnosed with PAP (0.10%) after posterior lumbar fusion surgery. Patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis were at higher risk of developing PAP (P < 0.05). With atypical clinical features, PAP occurred within 3 days (0-5) after surgery. PAP patients had significantly higher incidence of osteoporosis (47.6 vs. 22.6%, P = 0.030) and fusion of L1/2(42.9 vs. 4.3%, P = 0.010), lower albumin (42.2 & PLUSMN; 4.1 vs. 44.3 & PLUSMN; 3.2 g/L, P = 0.010), more fusion segments (median 4 vs. 3, P = 0.022), larger surgical invasiveness index (median 9 vs. 8, P = 0.007), longer operation duration (232 & PLUSMN; 109 vs. 185 & PLUSMN; 90 min, P = 0.041), greater estimated blood loss (median 600 vs. 400 mL, P = 0.025), lower intraoperative mean arterial pressure (87.2 & PLUSMN; 9.9 vs. 92.1 & PLUSMN; 8.8 mmHg, P = 0.024). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found three independent risk factors: fusion of L1/2, surgical invasiveness index > 8, and intraoperative mean arterial pressure < 90 mmHg. All patients were treated with conservative therapy and fully recovered after 8.1 (4-22) days.ConclusionThe incidence of PAP following posterior surgery for degenerative lumbar disease was 0.10%, and its clinical features were not typical. The fusion of L1/2, high surgical invasiveness index, and low intraoperative mean arterial pressure were independent risk factors for PAP after surgery for lumbar degenerative disease.

Automated summary

The aim of this study was to identify the incidence, clinical features, and risk factors for postoperative acute pancreatitis (PAP) after lumbar surgery. It was found that fusion of L1/2, high surgical invasiveness index, and low intraoperative mean arterial pressure were independent risk factors for PAP after surgery for lumbar degenerative disease.