Selection of pancreaticojejunostomy techniques according to pancreatic texture and duct size.
OBJECTIVE
Selection of proper pancreaticojejunostomy techniques according to pancreatic texture and the main duct size reduces the pancreatic fistula rate.


METHODS
Data from 50 consecutive patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy with 3 different anastomotic techniques prospectively used according to pancreatic texture and the main duct size were analyzed. Duct-invagination anastomosis was selected for pancreata with a small duct (n = 34 [29 with a soft texture and 5 with a hard texture]). Stitches between the stump parenchyma and the jejunal seromuscular layer were added to this anastomosis procedure only for the hard pancreata. Pancreata with a large duct were reconstructed with a conventional duct-to-mucosa anastomosis (n = 16).


METHODS
A university hospital department of digestive surgery.


RESULTS
The morbidity was 40% (20 of 50 patients) in this series. Four patients (8%) with a soft pancreas and a small duct developed a pancreatic stump leak after duct-invagination anastomosis, but all of them were removed without sequelae. No pancreatic anastomotic leak was seen in this series, which resulted in no mortality, no remnant pancreatectomy, and only 1 relaparotomy in the consecutive 50 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The proper selection of pancreatic reconstruction techniques according to our criteria may reduce the pancreatic fistula rate, eliminate risky pancreatic anastomotic leaks, and result in excellent outcomes for those undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy.
Suzuki
Yasuyuki
Y
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicinal Sciences, Kobe University, 7-5-2 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan. szk@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
Fujino
Yasuhiro
Y
Tanioka
Yasuki
Y
Hiraoka
Kunihiko
K
Takada
Moriatsu
M
Ajiki
Tetsuo
T
Takeyama
Yoshifumi
Y
Ku
Yonson
Y
Kuroda
Yoshikazu
Y
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010193:Pancreaticojejunostomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013536:Suture Techniques