Non-stented pancreaticogastrostomy for 111 patients undergoing pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The main purpose is to clarify the roles of pancreatic stenting and duct-to-mucosa anastomosis in prevention of pancreatic leakage and exocrine insufficiency in pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with non-stented pancreaticogastrostomy (non-stented PPPD-PG).

METHODOLOGY: Prospectively-collected data from 111 patients with resectable periampullary lesions undergoing non-stented PPPD-PG between January 1997 and February 2003 were analyzed. Severity of postoperative steatorrhea was assessed. Surgical morbidity and mortality were evaluated.

RESULTS

Complications occurred in 38 (34.2%) patients, leading to 2 (1.8%) deaths. However, neither of the deaths were related to operation. The most common complication was gastric atonia (14.4%). Pancreatic leakage occurred only in 1 (0.9%) patient. Overall, there was no steatorrhea in 92 (82.8%) patients after non-stented PPPD-PG, including 69 (62.2%) patients without replacement of pancreatic enzymes and 23 (20.7%) patients after replacement of pancreatic enzymes. Moderate steatorrhea occurred in 17 (15.3%) patients, and severe steatorrhea only in 1 (0.9%) patient. Steatorrhea was significantly correlated with the consistency of pancreatic parenchyma (P=0.037), instead of the diameter of pancreatic duct.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of low incidence of pancreatic leakage and steatorrhea in this non-stented PPPD-PG study imply that pancreatic stenting and duct-to-mucosa anastomosis may not be crucial in prevention of pancreatic leakage and exocrine insufficiency after reconstruction with pancreaticogastrostomy.