title: Pancreaticogastrostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
abstract: Although the mortality following pancreaticoduodenectomy has fallen and is now below 5%, overall 14% of patients develop a leak at the pancreatic anastomosis. This complication carries a 24% mortality rate when pancreaticojejunostomy is the method of reconstruction. In order to reduce the incidence of this complication, pancreaticogastrostomy can be performed following pancreaticoduodenectomy. A total of 41 patients underwent this operation between 1968 and 1989. The indications for operations were carcinoma of the head of the pancreas (n = 19), carcinoma of the ampulla (n = 12), carcinoma of the lower end of the common bile duct (n = 6), chronic pancreatitis (n = 3) and one patient with a nonfunctioning islet cell tumour. One patient developed a pancreatic fistula which closed spontaneously in 5 days. This patient is alive and well 36 months after operation. Pancreaticogastrostomy with pancreatic duct to gastric mucosa anastomosis is recommended as a safe and straight-forward method of reconstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy.
authors.affiliation: Mayday University Hospital, Thornton Heath, Surrey.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bradbeer
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D007516:Adenoma, Islet Cell / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000601:surgery; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D004386:Duodenum / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000601:surgery*; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000601:surgery; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*