title: A new pancreaticojejunostomy technique: a battle against postoperative pancreatic fistula.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present a new technique of end-to-side, duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy with seromuscular jejunal flap formation, and insertion of a silicone stent.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present an end-to-side, duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy with seromuscular jejunal flap formation, and the insertion of a silicone stent. This technique was performed in thirty-two consecutive patients who underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy procedure by the same surgical team, from January 2005 to March 2011. The surgical procedure performed in all cases was classic pancreaticoduodenectomy, without preservation of the pylorus. The diagnosis of pancreatic leakage was defined as a drain output of any measurable volume of fluid on or after postoperative day 3 with an amylase concentration greater than three times the serum amylase activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 32 patients who underwent end-to-side, duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy with seromuscular jejunal flap formation. Thirteen of them were women and 19 were men. These data correspond to 40.6% and 59.4%, respectively. The mean age was 64.2 years, ranging from 55 to 82 years. The mean operative time was 310.2 ± 40.0 min, and was defined as the time period from the intubation up to the extubation of the patient. Also, the mean time needed to perform the pancreaticojejunostomy was 22.7 min, ranging from 18 to 25 min. Postoperatively, one patient developed a low output pancreatic fistula, three patients developed surgical site infection, and one patient developed pneumonia. The rate of overall morbidity was 15.6%. There was no 30-d postoperative mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This modification appears to be a significantly safe approach to the pancreaticojejunostomy without adversely affecting operative time.
authors.affiliation: 1(st) Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Athens Medical School, Hippocratio Athens General Hospital, University of Athens, 11527 Attiki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katsaragakis
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larentzakis
authors.forename: Sotirios-Georgios
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Panousopoulos
authors.forename: Konstantinos G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Toutouzas
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Theodorou
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stergiopoulos
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Androulakis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000601:surgery; D007583:Jejunum / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D010193:Pancreaticojejunostomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012828:Silicones / Q000737:chemistry; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones; D000681:Amylases
keywords: Pancreatic fistula; Pancreaticojejunostomy; Seromuscular jejunal flap; Technique; Whipple