Wrapping pancreaticojejunostomy using the ligamentum teres hepatis during laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy: a propensity score matching analysis

Background and ObjectiveIt is controversial whether wrapping around the pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) could reduce the rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), especially in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). This study aims to summarize our single-center initial experience in wrapping around PJ using the ligamentum teres hepatis (LTH) and demonstrate the feasibility and safety of this method.MethodsPatients who underwent LPD applying the procedure of wrapping around the PJ were identified. The cohort was compared to the cohort with standard non-wrapping PJ. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to compare the early postoperative outcomes of the two cohorts. Risk factors for POPF were determined by using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsOverall, 143 patients were analyzed (LPD without wrapping (n = 91) and LPD with wrapping (n = 52)). After 1:1 PSM, 48 patients in each cohort were selected for further analysis. Bile leakage, DGE, intra-abdominal infection, postoperative hospital stays, harvested lymph nodes, and R0 resection were comparable between the two cohorts. However, the wrapping cohort was associated with significantly less POPF B (1 vs 18, P = 0.003), POPF C (0 vs 8, P = 0.043), and Clavien-Dindo classification level III-V (5 vs 26, P = 0.010). No patients died due to the clinically relevant POPF in the two cohorts. No patients who underwent the LTH wrapping procedure developed complications directly related to the wrapping procedure. After PSM, whether wrapping was an independent risk factor for POPF (OR = 0.202; 95%CI:0.080-0.513; P = 0.001).ConclusionsWrapping the LTH around the PJ technique for LPD was safe, efficient, and reproducible with favorable perioperative outcomes in selected patients. However, further validations using high-quality RCTs are still required to confirm the findings of this study.