Manometric evidence of earlier recovery of fasting gastric motility after antecolic duodenojejunostomy than after retrocolic duodenojejunostomy following PPPD.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Gastric stasis is a unique complication of pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD). Although some studies reported less prevalence of gastric stasis after antecolic duodenojejunostomy, there have been no reports on detailed comparison of gastric motility after antecolic vs. retrocolic duodenojejunostomy after PPPD.

METHODOLOGY: Thirty-six patients underwent PPPD with the modified Child reconstruction. Retrocolic duodenojejunostomy was utilized in initial 13 patients (retrocolic group). For comparison, antecolic duodenojejunostomy was employed in subsequent 23 patients (antecolic group). A manometric tube assembly was inserted into the gastric antrum and jejunum during PPPD. Gastrointestinal motility was recorded for 3 hours a day, starting on 6 to 14 days after surgery and repeated at a weekly interval until the first appearance of phase 3 gastric motility. Various clinical parameters were also assessed.

RESULTS

Recovery of gastric phase 3 was identified in 19 of 36 patients. Recovery of phase 3 was faster in antecolic group than in retrocolic group (p<0.01). The amount of the gastric juice output during 14 postoperative days was larger in retrocolic group than in antecolic group (p<0.01). Resumption of water intake and food intake was earlier and the length of intravenous hyperalimentation and hospital stay was shorter in antecolic group than in retrocolic group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Antecolic duodenojejunostomy contributes to early recovery of gastric phase 3 motility in patients after PPPD, leading to prevention of early gastric stasis.