Patients undergoing pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer frequently experience debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms, significantly impacting their quality of life.

• 95% of patients had gastrointestinal symptoms pre-surgery; common issues included flatulence and dry mouth.
• Symptoms peaked within the first three months post-surgery, with severe cases decreasing from 61% pre-op to 52% by 9-12 months.
• Patients with multiple severe symptoms indicated a clinically relevant decline in health-related quality of life.

These findings highlight the need for preoperative counseling about potential postoperative complications and their impact on patients’ recovery.