Pancreatogastrostomy as reconstruction for pancreatoduodenectomy: review.

A summary of 733 reported cases of pancreatogastrostomy (PG) as a reconstructive procedure following pancreatoduodenectomy and the traumatically severed pancreas indicates an aggregate leakage rate of 4% over a 52-year period. Although mortality rates have declined over this period, the reported high correlation of leak with mortality seems to indicate the greater safety of PG over other methods for treating the residual pancreatic duct. The lower rate of complications related to pancreatocutaneous fistula from PG should correlate with shorter and less expensive hospital stays for patients treated with this technique. Several questions regarding technique must await further investigation.