Mortality Rate - Pancreatic Resection Enlarge This is the mortality rate for patients, age 18 years and older, at this hospital who had a pancreatic resection. Pancreatic resection is the surgical removal of part of the pancreas, usually to remove cancerous tissues. The pancreas is spongy, grayish-pink organ about 6 inches (15 cm) long that stretches across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. The head of the pancreas is on the right side of the abdomen and is connected to the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine). The narrow end of the pancreas, called the tail, extends to the left side of the body. Pancreatic resection is the surgical removal of part of the pancreas, usually to remove cancerous tissues. Pancreatic resection is a rare procedure that requires technical proficiency and the use of complex equipment. Errors in surgical technique or management may lead to clinically significant complications, such as sepsis, breakdown of surgically joined vessels, and death, to name a few. Better processes of care may reduce mortality from pancreatic resection; lower mortality suggests better quality care. This measure of quality should be used in conjunction with other measures to gain a more complete understanding of the quality picture. Reference: [1] [4]

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