Systematic use of isolated pancreatic anastomosis after pancreatoduodenectomy: Five years of experience with zero mortality.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to perform a comprehensive evaluation of 5 years of experience with the technique of isolated pancreatic anastomosis reconstruction after pancreatoduodenectomy from the perspective of safety and surgical efficacy using a prospective database. METHODS The study included all consecutive patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy from April 2009 to April 2014 at a single referral center for hepato-pancreato-biliary diseases. The primary endpoint was the safety of the procedures, which was assessed as the occurrence of complications during hospitalization. Ninety-day mortality was also assessed. Postoperative pancreatic fistulas were classified as grade A, B, or C according to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula classification. RESULTS The study group included 214 consecutive patients with a median age of 60 years who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy. Portal vein resection was performed on 41 patients. Indications for resection were 165 pancreatic head tumors, 33 ampullary tumors, 7 chronic pancreatitis, 3 distal bile duct tumors, and 6 duodenal tumors. There was no perioperative or 90-day mortality in this series. Complications occurred in 68 patients (32%), and 42 patients presented with pancreatic fistulas (19.6%). Grade A fistulas were present in 38 patients. Three patients presented persistent pancreatic fistula and were treated with percutaneous drainage. One patient developed combined pancreatic and biliary fistulas and was reoperated on for pancreatic abscess drainage. CONCLUSIONS The technique of isolated pancreatic anastomosis by diverting the pancreatic from biliary secretion may contribute to reducing the severity of pancreatic fistulas and therefore the severity of this complication.