How high are the risks of pancreas surgery?
Pancreas operations are stressful for the body, and should only be performed at centers where the performing surgeons as well as all others involved in the patient’s treatment such as anesthetists and nurses are experienced. During the operation, a loop of the small intestine is sewn onto the pancreas. The risk of there being a leak in the area of the suture (seam) lies between 2 and 15%, and, in most cases, can be treated without further surgery. Further risks include temporary disturbances in stomach emptying (harmless but annoying), or any complications associated with a hospital stay but not directly related to the operation such as pneumonia, thrombosis or urinary tract infections. The risk of dying due to a pancreas operation lies internationally under 5%. There are many centers where a series of over 100 operations have been performed without any cases of death due to the operation.
