title: Role of prophylactic gastroenterostomy for unresectable pancreatic carcinoma.
abstract: Methods of palliation and the use of prophylactic gastroenterostomy in the treatment of unresectable pancreatic carcinoma remain controversial. Gastroenterostomy has been linked with various complications. We conducted a 10-year (1982-1992) retrospective review of patients who had unresectable pancreatic carcinoma and underwent biliary decompression without prophylactic gastroenterostomy. 50 patients were studied. Only four patients (8%) developed duodenal obstruction and required reoperation for therapeutic gastroenterostomy. The mean time to obstruction was 15.75 months, whereas the mean overall survival was 12.99 months. The mean survival of patients who underwent therapeutic gastroenterostomy was 32.25 months, with an average palliation of 16.5 months after the second operation. We conclude that pancreatic carcinoma has a rapid natural progression, and most patients do not survive long enough to obstruct. The ones who do obstruct are unique in that they survive for a long period of time. We recommend that routine prophylactic gastroenterostomy is unnecessary, and selective use of gastroenterostomy should be exercised in case of present or impending duodenal obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Egrari
authors.forename: T X
authors.initials: TX
authors.lastname: O'Connell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004380:Duodenal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005763:Gastroenterostomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate