title: Radiofrequency-induced heating versus mechanical stapler for pancreatic stump closure: in vivo comparative study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the capacity of two methods of surgical pancreatic stump closure in terms of reducing the risk of pancreatic fistula formation (POPF): radiofrequency-induced heating versus mechanical stapler.
  
  
  
  Sixteen pigs underwent a laparoscopic transection of the neck of the pancreas. Pancreatic anastomosis was always avoided in order to work with an experimental model prone to POPF. Pancreatic stump closure was conducted either by stapler (ST group, n = 8) or radiofrequency energy (RF group, n = 8). Both groups were compared for incidence of POPF and histopathological alterations of the pancreatic remnant.
  
  
  
  Six animals (75%) in the ST group and one (14%) in the RF group were diagnosed with POPF (p = 0.019). One animal in the RF group and three animals in the ST group had a pseudocyst in close contact with both pancreas stumps. On day 30 post-operation (PO), almost complete atrophy of the exocrine distal pancreas was observed when the main pancreatic duct was efficiently sealed.
  
  
  
  Our findings suggest that RF-induced heating is more effective at closing the pancreatic stump than mechanical stapler and leads to the complete atrophy of the distal remnant pancreas.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgery , Hospital del Mar , Barcelona , Spain .
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burdío
authors.affiliation: b Department of Surgery , St Vincent's University Hospital , Dublin , Ireland .
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dorcaratto
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgery , Hospital del Mar , Barcelona , Spain .
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: c Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals , Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Spain .
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andaluz
authors.affiliation: c Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals , Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Bellaterra , Spain .
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.affiliation: d Fundación Instituto Mar de Investigaciones Médicas , Barcelona , Spain .
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quesada
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgery , Hospital del Mar , Barcelona , Spain .
authors.forename: Ignasi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Poves
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgery , Hospital del Mar , Barcelona , Spain .
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.affiliation: e Hospital Sagrat Cor , Barcelona , Spain , and.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cáceres
authors.affiliation: f Biomedical Synergy, Electronic Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de València , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berjano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D006358:Hot Temperature; D010535:Laparoscopy; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013528:Surgical Staplers; D013552:Swine
keywords: Duct sealing; mechanical stapler; pancreatectomy; radiofrequency-assisted resection; stump closure