Background Intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) is one of the most serious surgical infectious complications on pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) patients. Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) is considered as a risk of surgical infectious complications. However, the reason why PBD caused IAA was unknown. In this study, we hypothesize that bile contamination may increase the rate of IAA as bile from residual common bile duct (CBD) leaks and contaminates the abdominal cavity.

Methods We retrospectively collected PD patients with performance of bile culture between 2007 and 2019 in our institute. As to bile culture, we used a swab to do intraoperative bile cultures after transection of the CBD. IAA was defined as a postoperative fluid collection managed by CT-guided placement of drains with documental bacteriological culture.

Inclusion Criteria:

• all pancreaticoduodenectomy patients

Exclusion Criteria:

• no bile cultures

Surgical populations