Evaluation of pancreatic chymotrypsin activity for on-site prediction of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula.

OBJECTIVES: Although the risk of complications due to postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) have been evaluated based on the amylase level in drained ascitic fluid, this method has much room for improvement regarding diagnostic accuracy and facility of the measurement. This study aimed to investigate the clinical value of measuring pancreatic chymotrypsin activity for rapid and accurate prediction of POPF after pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS: In 52 consecutive patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, the chymotrypsin activity in pancreatic juice was measured by calculating the increase in fluorescence intensity during the first 5 min after activation with an enzyme-activatable fluorophore. The predictive value for clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) was compared between this technique and the conventional method based on the amylase level. RESULTS: According to receiver operating characteristic analyses, pancreatic chymotrypsin activity on postoperative day (POD) 3 measured with a multiplate reader had the highest predictive value for CR-POPF (area under the curve [AUC], 0.752; P < 0.001), yielding 77.8 % sensitivity and 68.8 % specificity. The AUC and sensitivity/specificity of the amylase level in ascitic fluid on POD 3 were 0.695 (P = 0.053) and 77.8 %/41.2 %, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified high pancreatic chymotrypsin activity on POD 3 as an independent risk factor for CR-POPF. Measurement of pancreatic chymotrypsin activity with a prototype portable fluorescence photometer could significantly predict CR-POPF (AUC, 0.731; P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Measurement of pancreatic chymotrypsin activity enabled accurate and rapid prediction of CR-POPF after pancreaticoduodenectomy. This can help surgeons to implement appropriate drain management at the patient's bedside without delay.