Pylorus-preserving total pancreatectomy. Early and late results.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Preservation of the pylorus is an accepted alternative procedure to the classical Whipple operation for pancreatic head resection but data describing its value for total pancreatectomy are sparse.

METHODS: A prospective analysis of 22 total pancreatectomies performed in a consecutive series of 436 pancreatic resections from 1.11.93 to 1.5.99.

RESULTS: 11 patients underwent total pancreatectomy with preservation of the pylorus. Histopathological examination revealed pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 16 cases and duodenal adenocarcinoma in 1 patient, 5 patients had other types of pancreatic neoplasm. In-hospital mortality was 4.5% (n = 1), cumulative morbidity was 59% and reoperations were performed in 9.1% of cases (n = 2). Median follow-up was 37 months (range 5-66). 62% of patients (n = 13) developed tumor recurrence and 13 patients died during the follow-up period with 10 deaths being cancer related. There was no difference concerning postoperative and follow-up morbidity of survival between patients undergoing pylorus-preserving total pancreatectomy or pancreatectomy with gastrectomy. However, postoperative body weight was increased 3, 6, 9 and 12 months following preservation of the pylorus.

CONCLUSION: Total pancreatectomy with preservation of the pylorus is a feasible type of resection for all types of pancreatic or ampullary tumors, which shows a similar morbidity and long-term survival but improved nutritional recovery compared with standard total pancreatectomy.