Pancreaticoduodenectomy with External Drainage of the Pancreatic Remnant

• Main Authors: Suvit Sriussadaporn, Rattaplee Pak-art, Sukanya Sriussadaporn, Kritaya Kritayakirana, Supparerk Prichayudh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2008-10-01
• Series: Asian Journal of Surgery
• Subjects: external pancreatic drainage; pancreatic fistula; pancreaticoduodenectomy; pancreaticojejunal anastomotic leakage
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1015958408600809

Leakage of the pancreaticojejunal anastomosis is a serious complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy. External drainage of the pancreatic remnant is one of several methods for reducing pancreaticojejunal anastomotic leakage or fistula. We investigated complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy with and without external drainage of the pancreatic remnant. METHODS: Patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand from November 1991 to October 2007 were enrolled. Before 2001, no external pancreatic drainage was employed during pancreaticojejunal anastomosis (non-stented group). Since 2001, external drainage of the pancreatic remnant has been routinely performed with a paediatric feeding tube (stented group). RESULTS: There were 28 patients in the non-stented group and 45 in the stented group. Stented patients had undergone significantly more previous abdominal operations, pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, and end to end anastomosis of the pancreatic remnant and jejunal limb. Leakage of the pancreaticojejunal anastomosis or pancreatic fistula, overall complications, and re-laparotomy rate were significantly higher in the non-stented group (leakage or fistula 21.4% vs. 6.7%, overall complications 50% vs. 33.3%, and re-laparotomy 18% vs. 2.2%). The only death was in the non-stented group. CONCLUSION: External drainage of the pancreatic remnant after pancreaticoduodenectomy is an effective method for prevention of pancreaticojejunal anastomosis leakage and other related complications.