“The association between intraoperative bile cultures and infectious complications after
pancreatoduodenectomy remains unclear. Pancreatoduodenectomy remains a complex and technically demanding procedure with high rates of morbidity (25–52%) and mortality (1–3%). Infectious complications, such as surgical site infections (SSIs) and organ space infections (OSIs), are reported as the most common complications following pancreatoduodenectomy besides pancreatic fistula and delayed gastric emptying.”

“The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive role of IOBCs in the occurrence of abdominal infectious complications in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy. Positive IOBCs were not associated with the occurrence of OSIs, which was confirmed by the meta-analysis on abdominal infectious complications. Even more, only 8% of patients developed an isolated OSI, which was not associated with IOBC status.”

Groen JV, et al. Clinical implications of bile cultures obtained during pancreatoduodenectomy: a cohort study and meta-analysis. HPB (Oxford). 2021 Jul;23(7):1123-1133. Free Full Text