['Resection is the only life-prolonging option for pancreatic or periampullary cancer. Cell-mediated immunity might reduce progression of metastasis or local recurrence likelihood, but surgery associated morbidity can suppress this immunity. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of complications on cancer specific survival after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic and periampullary cancer.', '517 consecutive patients who underwent PD for pancreatic or periampullary adenocarcinoma were analysed.', 'After median follow-up of 24 (14-44) months, 377 (73%) patients had died from progressive disease, 140 (27%) were alive. Median survival for pancreatic adenocarcinoma was 22 (18-25) months following an uncomplicated postoperative course versus 16 (13-19) months for patients with major surgical complications (p = 0.021). Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that microscopically residual disease (R1), complications, and adjuvant therapy were independent factors for recurrence. Within the R1 group, survival for patients with complications was even more limited, 9.7 (8.3-11.0) versus 18.7 (15.0-22.5) for those without (p < 0.001). For patients with R1 resection complications was the only independent predictor for a shorter time interval to death (hazard ratio 1.96; 95% CI 1.16-3.30). Complications did not influence survival of patients with periampullary adenocarcinoma.'] Do pancreatoduodenectomy associated complications influence cancer recurrence and time interval to death?