Pancreatic fibrosis correlates with delayed gastric emptying after pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with pancreaticogastrostomy.
OBJECTIVE
To show that residual pancreatitis delays gastric emptying, the authors used surgical specimens and studied gastric stasis after pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD).


BACKGROUND
Delayed gastric emptying is a leading cause of complications after PPPD, occurring in 30% of patients. The pathogenesis of delayed gastric emptying remains unclear.


METHODS
Surgical specimens of the pancreas from 25 patients undergoing PPPD and pancreaticogastrostomy were collected and examined by microscopy according to progressive pancreatic fibrosis and divided into three groups: no fibrosis, periductal fibrosis, and intralobular fibrosis. The authors then measured gastric output from the nasogastric tube, pancreatic output from the pancreatic tube, and the time until patients tolerated a solid diet.


RESULTS
Pancreatic juice output was significantly related to the degree of pathologic findings, and gastric output was inversely related to them. A significant prolongation of postoperative solid diet tolerance correlated with increased pancreatic fibrosis and gastric fluid production.


CONCLUSIONS
Pancreatic fibrosis and increased gastric fluid production correlate with delayed gastric emptying after PPPD with pancreaticogastrostomy.
Murakami
Hiroya
H
Department of Surgery, Kainan Hospital, Aichi, Japan.
Suzuki
Harumi
H
Nakamura
Takaaki
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000378:metabolism; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000379:methods; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013997:Time Factors