title: Does external pancreatic duct stent decrease pancreatic fistula rate after pancreatic resection?: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of an external pancreatic duct stent to prevent fistula formation of pancreatic anastomosis remains a matter of debate. This study is a meta-analysis of the available evidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles published until the end of March 2011 comparing external stenting and non-stenting in pancreatic anastomosis were included. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using either the fixed effects model or random effects model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six articles were identified for inclusion: 3 randomized controlled trials and 3 observational clinical studies. The meta-analysis revealed that the use of an external pancreatic duct stent was associated with a statistically significant reduction in overall postoperative morbidity (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.39-0.81; p = 0.002), pancreatic fistula (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.23-0.15; p < 0.001), severity of pancreatic fistula (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.32-1.57; p = 0.04), delayed gastric emptying (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.25-0.80; p = 0.007), and length of hospital stay (WMD -3.95; 95% CI -6.38 to -1.52; p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current literature suggests that the use of an external pancreatic duct stent reduced the leakage rate of pancreatic anastomosis after pancreatic resection. and IAP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreato-Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, China.
authors.forename: Yanming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Chunlian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shuangjia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jingxi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000601:surgery; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000601:surgery*; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D015607:Stents