A comparative study on the complications of conventional and end-to-side inserting pancreatojejunostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Pancreatico-digestive anastomosis is important in ensuring the safety of pancreaticoduodenectomy. This study compared the postoperative complications of a newly developed method of inserting end-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy with the conventional pancreaticojejunostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy. From April 2012 to December 2015, 108 consecutive patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at Kumamoto University Hospital. A modified child's reconstruction was performed with the inserting or conventional pancreaticojejunostomy. The clinical course and the incidence of postoperative complications were retrospectively evaluated. Five patients were excluded, four who underwent hepato-pancreatoduodenectomy and one who did not require pancreaticojejunostomy because of an atrophic pancreatic remnant. Of the 103 patients that were included in the analysis, 41 and 62 underwent surgery with the inserting and conventional methods, respectively. The incidence of postoperative Clavien-Dindo grade > II complications was similar in the two groups [36.6 % (15/41) vs 27.4 % (17/62)]. However, the rates of grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula [7.3 % (3/41) vs 0 % (0/62) P = 0.030] and re-operation for postoperative complications [14.6 % (6/41) vs 3.2 % (2/62), P = 0.034] were significantly higher in the inserting group than in the conventional group. There were no in-hospital deaths in either group. The conventional pancreaticojejunostomy is safer than the end-to-side inserting pancreaticojejunostomy, as the latter is associated with a risk of severe complications. Improvements in pancreatico-digestive anastomosis techniques are required.