Bile Bacterial Colonization Increases Risk of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula and Worsens Overall Survival Following Pancreatoduodenectomy

TL;DR

Bacterial presence in bile increases the risk of post-surgery complications and reduces survival in pancreatic cancer patients.

Contribution

This study identifies bacteriobilia as an independent negative prognostic factor for pancreatic fistula and survival after pancreatoduodenectomy.

Findings

Bacteriobilia was detected in 76.8% of patients and increased odds of postoperative pancreatic fistula.

Bile colonization reduced overall survival regardless of cancer stage.

Bacteria with resistance mechanisms were strongly linked to severe pancreatic fistula.

Abstract

We analyzed bile samples collected during pancreatoduodenectomy in patients with PDAC. The importance of this study lies in the conclusion that bacteriobilia might be associated with higher rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula and shorter overall survival, independently of the cancer stage, and thus should be recognized as a negative prognostic factor following PD.

Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a major source of morbidity following a pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), often delaying or precluding adjuvant chemotherapy and potentially compromising long-term oncologic outcomes. While established risk models focus on anatomical and biochemical factors, the role of biliary microbiota remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess relationship between bacteriobilia and the incidence of POPF, as well as its impact on overall survival (OS) in patients undergoing a PD for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods: We analyzed the medical histories of 725 patients with a pancreatic tumor who were qualified for surgery between 2017 and 2022. This retrospective cohort study included 138 patients who underwent a PD for histologically confirmed PDAC. Intraoperative bile cultures were obtained and analyzed for microbial presence and resistance patterns. Results: Bacteriobilia was detected in 76.8% of patients, including bacteria with resistance mechanisms (BRM) present in 12.3% of bile samples. Bacterial bile colonization conferred an increased odds of POPF grade B (OR 5.11; p = 0.088), whereas BRM were strongly predisposed to POPF grade C (OR 4.97; p = 0.026). Upon a multivariate analysis, bacteriobilia independently drove clinically relevant POPF and POPF grade B (OR 5.50; p = 0.034 and OR 8.04; p = 0.048, respectively), while BRM remained a key determinant of POPF grade C (OR 6.17; p = 0.047). Beyond morbidity, bile colonization markedly impaired overall survival irrespective of tumor stage (26.7 vs. 54.7 months; log-rank p = 0.009). Conclusions: Bacterial bile colonization may contribute not only to higher rates of POPF but to a significantly reduced OS in patients undergoing a PD for PDAC. Bacteriobilia should be considered as a prognostic factor for worse survival after a PD.

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