Impact of diabetes mellitus on postoperative complications in patients undergoing pancreatic surgery

Background Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols decrease postoperative complications, but data on their effect on diabetic patients undergoing pancreatectomy are scarce. This study assessed whether diabetes mellitus (DM) was a morbidity predictor after pancreatectomy within an ERAS program. Methods A cross-sectional study including all patients who underwent pancreatectomy (2012–2022) and followed an ERAS pathway was performed. Multivariable analysis was used to determine whether DM was a morbidity predictor. Association between ERAS compliance and morbidity rate was assessed. Results A total of 558 patients were included (266 women, median age 66, median body-mass index 25). Most patients underwent open pancreatoduodenectomy ( n =369, 66%). In diabetic patients with overall ERAS compliance ≤ 60 %, morbidity was 38/40 (95%), whereas in diabetic patients with overall ERAS compliance>60 %, it decreased to 37/50 (74%, p =0.008). DM was not found as an independent complication predictor (OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.4–1.2, p =0.186), while body-mass index>25 kg/m 2 and preoperative biliary stenting were preoperative morbidity predictors (OR 1.1, 95%CI 1.0–1.1, p =0.049; OR 1.7, 95%CI 1.0–2.5, p =0.044). Conclusion This study showed that DM was not associated with postoperative complications after pancreatectomy within an ERAS program. It highlighted the importance of a good ERAS compliance to decrease the risk of postoperative complications in DM patients.