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Objective: beta-Cell regeneration has been proposed as a possible treatment for diabetes, but the capacity for new beta-cell formation in humans is yet unclear. In young rats, partial pancreatectomy prompts new beta-cell formation to restore beta-cell mass. We addressed the following questions: In adult humans: 1) Does partial pancreatectomy provoke new beta-cell formation and increased beta-cell mass? 2) Is beta-cell turnover increased after partial pancreatectomy? Research Design and Methods: Protocol 1: human pancreatic tissue was collected from 13 patients who underwent two consecutive partial pancreas resections, and markers of cell turnover were determined in both tissue samples, respectively. Protocol 2: pancreas volumes were determined from abdominal computer tomography scans, performed in 17 patients on two separate occasions after partial pancreatectomy. Results: Protocol 1: fasting glucose concentrations increased significantly after the 50% pancreatectomy (P = 0.01), but the fractional beta-cell area of the pancreas remained unchanged (P = 0.11). beta-Cell proliferation, the overall replication index (Ki67 staining), and the percentage of duct cells expressing insulin were similar before and after the partial pancreatectomy. The overall frequency of apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick-end labeling) was slightly increased following the partial pancreatectomy (P = 0.02). Protocol 2: pancreatic volume was approximately 50% reduced to 35.6 +/- 2.6 ccm(3) by the partial pancreatectomy. The total pancreatic volume was unchanged after an interval of 247 +/- 160 days (35.4 +/- 2.7 ccm(3); P = 0.51). Conclusions: Unlike in rodents, a 50% pancreatectomy does not prompt beta-cell regeneration in adult humans. This explains the high incidence of diabetes after pancreatic resections. Such differences in beta-cell turnover between rodents and humans should be born in mind when evaluating new treatment options aiming to restore beta-cell mass in patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE--β-Cell regeneration has been proposed as a possible treatment for diabetes, but the capacity for new β-cell formation in humans is yet unclear. In young rats, partial pancreatectomy prompts new β-cell formation to restore β-cell mass. We addressed the following questions: In adult humans: 1) Does partial pancreatectomy provoke new β-cell formation and increased β-cell mass? 2) Is β-cell turnover increased after partial pancreatectomy? RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--Protocol 1: human pancreatic tissue was collected from 13 patients who underwent two consecutive partial pancreas resections, and markers of cell turnover were determined in both tissue samples, respectively. Protocol 2: pancreas volumes were determined from abdominal computer tomography scans, performed in 17 patients on two separate occasions after partial pancreatectomy. RESULTS--Protocol 1: fasting glucose concentrations increased significantly after the 50% pancreatectomy (P = 0.01), but the fractional β-cell area of the pancreas remained unchanged (P = 0.11). β-Cell proliferation, the overall replication index (Ki67 staining), and the percentage of duct cells expressing insulin were similar before and after the partial pancreatectomy. The overall frequency of apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick-end labeling) was slightly increased following the partial pancreatectomy (P = 0.02). Protocol 2: pancreatic volume was ∼50% reduced to 35.6 ± 2.6 ccm³ by the partial pancreatectomy. The total pancreatic volume was unchanged after an interval of 247 ± 160 days (35.4 ± 2.7 ccm³; P = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS--Unlike in rodents, a 50% pancreatectomy does not prompt β-cell regeneration in adult humans. This explains the high incidence of diabetes after pancreatic resections. Such differences in β-cell turnover between rodents and humans should be born in mind when evaluating new treatment options aiming to restore β-cell mass in patients with diabetes. Diabetes 57:142-149, 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the differential diagnosis of chronic groin pain in athletes. The authors define chronic groin pain as a condition caused by various pathologies such as osteitis pubis and muscular imbalance. They state that MRI was not a helpful tool in the differential diagnosis of chronic groin pain.

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) as well as postoperative biliary fistula (POBF) are considered the main source of postoperative morbidity and mortality after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). However, little is known about the incidence and complications of combined POPF/POBF compared to isolated POPF or POBF. This single-center study investigated retrospectively the incidence and postoperative outcome of combined POPF/POBF compared to isolated fistulas following PD in a tertiary German pancreatic center between 2009 and 2018. A total of 678 patients underwent PD for benign and malignant periampullary lesions. Combined fistulas occurred in 6%, isolated POPF in 16%, and isolated POBF in 2%. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and chronic pancreatitis had a protective effect on the occurrence of combined fistulas, whereas serous cystadenoma and pancreatic metastasis were risk factors. Morbidity (Grade C fistula, post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage, revisional surgery) and mortality was significantly higher in patients with combined fistulas than in those with isolated fistula. Moreover, the duration of ICU stay was longer. A combined POPF/POBF is associated with a significant increase of morbidity and mortality compared to isolated fistulas after PD. Early surgical revision in these patients may improve the postoperative survival rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) ranks as one of the most frequent complications in pancreatic surgery. It leads to increased costs for healthcare systems, lengthened hospital stays and reduced quality of life. Data about DGE after distal pancreatectomy (DP) are scarce. The StuDoQ|Pancreas registry of the German Society of General and Visceral Surgery provided data of patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018. The retrospective evaluation included comprehensive data: 1688 patients were enrolled; DGE occurred 160 times (9.5%); grade "A" was reported for 98 (61.3%), grade "B" for 41 (25.6%) and grade "C" for 21 (13.1%) patients. In univariate analysis pancreatic fistulas were associated with higher frequencies of intraabdominal abscesses (9.1% vs. 2%, p > 0.001), postpancreatectomy haemorrhage (8.1% vs. 3.7%, >0.001) and DGE (14.5% vs. 6%, p < 0.001). According to multivariate analysis, "abscesses with invasive therapy" (p < 0.001), "other surgical complications" (p < 0.001), prolonged "stays in ICU" (p < 0.001), lengthened duration of surgery (p < 0.001) and conventional surgery (p = 0.007) were identified as independent risk factors for DGE. Perioperative and postoperative factors were identified as risk factors for DGE. Following research should examine this highly relevant topic in a prospective, register-based manner. As there is no causal therapy for DGE, its avoidance is of major importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) was commissioned by the Federal Joint Committee (G‑BA) to carry out a systematic literature search and assessment of the evidence for the association between the hospital and surgeon volume of cases and the quality of the treatment results in complex pancreatic surgery. The results are presented in the rapid report V19-03. The report confirms an association between the number of cases and the quality of the treatment results in favor of hospitals and surgeons with high volume case numbers; however, a statement with respect to the minimum numbers of complex pancreatic interventions is not given. The surgical working group for liver, gall bladder and pancreatic diseases (CALGP) of the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV) comments on these conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Double-loop (DL) reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), diverting pancreatic from biliary secretions, has been reported to reduce rates and severity of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) compared to single loop (SL) reconstruction at the price of prolonged operative duration. This study investigated the feasibility of a new reconstruction method combining the advantages of DL with the simplicity of SL in patients with high-risk pancreas. Methods A modified single-loop (mSL) reconstruction was used in patients undergoing PD with a soft pancreatic remnant and a pancreatic duct smaller than 3 mm (n = 50). The loop between the pancreatic and the biliary anastomoses was left longer and a side-to-side jejunojejunal anastomosis was performed between them at the lowest point to promote isolated flow of pancreatic and biliary secretions. Rate and severity of POPF, mortality, duration of surgery, and POPF-associated morbidity were compared to those of 50 matched patients with SL and 25 patients with DL reconstruction. Results Duration of surgery was 57 min longer for DL, but equal for mSL and SL. The POPF rate did not differ between the three groups. The severity of POPF was more pronounced in the SL group (62% grade C: p = 0.011). Mortality and major morbidity were lower and hospital stay shorter in the mSL and DL groups compared to the SL group. Conclusions The new mSL reconstruction was safer than conventional SL and faster to perform than DL reconstruction in patients with a high-risk pancreas. It did not influence the rate of POPF, but reduced its severity, leading to less major morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a new combined method of covering the pancreatic anastomosis or stump with a cyanoacrylate and a falciform patch (CAFP) on the occurrence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). Methods: Patients undergoing a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or a distal pancreatectomy (DP) were recruited over a period of 12 months. The pancreaticojejunostomy in PD and the stump in DP were sealed with cyanoacrylate glue and wrapped in a falciform patch. Incidence and severity of POPF and associated postoperative complications were retrospectively compared with historical controls of 750 PD and 336 DP at the same institution and with current data from the literature. Results: The new method was applied in 27 PD and 25 DP. The rate of clinically relevant POPF after PD with CAFP was 22.2% compared to 14.4% in historical patients, p = 0.26. The rate of clinically relevant POPF after DP with CAFP was 36% compared to 30% in historical patients, p = 0.65. Conclusion: Sealing the pancreatic anastomosis or stump with a combination of a cyanoacrylate glue and a falciform patch didn't reduce the rate of POPF after major pancreatic resections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is recommended as standard treatment for acute cholecystitis, in 10-30 % a conversion to open cholecystectomy is required. Among some surgeons, this is still perceived as a 'complication.' The aim of our study was to define characteristics and outcome of patients with acute cholecystitis undergoing conversion cholecystectomy. Methods: Over a 9-year period, 464 consecutive patients undergoing cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis were analyzed for demographic, preoperative, intraoperative, histopathological, and laboratory findings and surgical outcome parameters. Results: Patients with conversion cholecystectomy were characterized by younger age, lower American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, and less cardiac comorbidities compared to patients with primary open cholecystectomy. Severity of inflammation on the clinical and histopathological level was similar and comparable. Overall complication rate, mortality, and median hospital stay were significantly lower compared to those of primary open cholecystectomy group. Conclusions: There are no disadvantages for patients undergoing conversion cholecystectomy compared to primary open cholecystectomy. The outcome is influenced by general condition and comorbidities rather than by the surgical approach. Underlying fear of conversion should not avoid a laparoscopic approach in patients with acute cholecystitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently introduced Hugo RAS robotic platform has mostly been used for well standardized urologic and gynaecologic procedures. Experience with this new system in general surgery and especially in major colorectal surgery is very limited. This is a retrospective series of the first 25 consecutive non-selected colorectal surgeries performed at a single German center. The lessons learned from our initial experience are presented along with a systematic review of the currently available literature on this topic. Ten sigmoid and seven rectal resections, four right and one left hemicolectomies, two Hartmann's reversals and an abdominoperineal resection were performed in 14 women and 11 men at the median age of 66 years for 12 benign findings and 13 malignancies. All procedures were performed using four robotic ports and a single 12 mm assistant port. Median docking, console and total operative times were 12, 170 and 270 min. Median blood loss was < 100 ml, and median stay was 8 days. The literature review identified five case series with a total of 23 colorectal procedures: 9 right and 1 left hemicolectomies, 5 ileocaecal, and 4 rectal and 4 sigmoid resections. Results corresponded to ours despite variations in setup used by different authors. A wide spectrum of major colorectal surgery can be safely and effectively performed with the Hugo RAS, even in a cohort of non-selected patients. Ongoing software and hardware upgrade, introduction of robotic energy devices and increasing surgical experience are expected to facilitate procedures and reduce duration of surgery., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: The versatile open modular design of the newly introduced robotic platform Hugo TM RAS is expected to allow its rapid spread in general surgery. However, the system is not yet approved for use in oesophageal and HPB-surgery and is not licensed worldwide. The aim of this work was to review the current spectrum of general surgical procedures that may be feasibly and safely performed with Hugo. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our own series and performed a systematic review of all the published reports of general surgical procedures performed with this system in the literature. Results: Seventy patients underwent general surgery with Hugo at our institution, and another 99 patients were reported in the literature. The most common procedures were colorectal (n = 55); cholecystectomy (n = 44); repair of groin, ventral and hiatal hernias (n = 34); upper GI (n = 28); adrenalectomy (n = 6); and spleen cyst deroofing (n = 2). No device-related complications were reported. Arm collisions and technical problems were rare. The docking and console times improved in all series. The port positions and robotic arm configurations varied among authors and depended on the surgical indication, patient characteristics and surgeon's preference. Conclusions: A wide spectrum of general surgical procedures has been safely and effectively performed with the Hugo RAS, even by robotically inexperienced teams with a limited choice of instruments. Technical improvements to the system and the introduction of robotic energy devices may help Hugo evolve to a vital alternative to established robotic systems., Competing Interests: Waldemar Uhl and Illya Slobodkin do not have any conflicts of interest. Orlin Belyaev and Tim Fahlbusch contribute to the advisory board of Medtronic. Orlin Belyaev has received consultant and proctor honoraria from Medtronic and Touch Surgery.

Background: The establishment of preoperative chemotherapy (PCT) with FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in recent years has enabled resectability in many patients with initially locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Nevertheless, information about the impact of PCT on surgical results is scarce., Methods: All patients with initial LAPC who received surgery after chemotherapy at the high-volume centre for pancreatic surgery of St. Josef-Hospital Bochum between 2015 and 2022 were included in this retrospective cohort analysis., Results: A total of 139 patients underwent surgery after pre-treatment with FOLFIRINOX (76.3%), gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (11.5%), both (5.8%) and other regimens (6.5%). Eighty-five tumors (61.2%) were resectable after PCT. R0 resection was achieved in 92.9%, R1 in 7.1% and R2 in 0% of cases. Fifty-four tumors were still not resectable at the time of surgery. Surgical results of the patients did not show increased postoperative mortality and morbidity compared to the literature data. Postoperative 30-day mortality was 1.4%. Rates for pancreas-specific complications [postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), delayed gastric emptying (DGE), postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH), and others] were not increased. POPF occurred in 10.5% and DGE in 26.3% after pancreaticoduodenectomy. After distal pancreatectomy, POPF was detected in 37.5% and DGE in 12.5%. Median postoperative survival (31 vs. 13 months) and overall survival after initial diagnosis (40 vs. 20 months) were significantly longer in resected patients (P<0.001). Postoperative recurrence-free survival in resected patients amounted to 12 months., Conclusions: This study underlines that PCT allows resectability of primarily unresectable patients with LAPC without increasing perioperative mortality and morbidity. It may lead to a significant prolongation of recurrence-free and overall survival in resected patients after PCT., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://hbsn.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/hbsn-23-426/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Hepatobiliary Surgery and Nutrition. All rights reserved.)

Background/objectives: Pancreatic surgery may have a long-lasting effect on patients' health status and quality of life (QoL). We aim to evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PRO) 3 months after pancreatic surgery., Methods: Patients scheduled for pancreatic surgery were enrolled in a prospective trial at five German centers. Patients completed PRO questionnaires (EQ-5D-5L, EORTC QLQ-PAN26, patient-reported happiness, and HADS-D), we report the first follow-up 3 months after surgery as an interim analysis. Statistical testing was performed using R software., Results: From 2019 to 2022 203 patients were enrolled, a three-month follow-up questionnaire was available in 135 (65.5 %). 77 (57.9 %) underwent surgery for malignant disease. Patient-reported health status (EQ-5D-5L) was impaired in 4/5 dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain, discomfort) for patients with malignant and 3/5 dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities) for patients with benign disease 3 months after surgery (p < 0.05). Patients with malignant disease reported an increase in depressive symptoms, patients with benign disease had a decrease in anxiety symptoms (HADS-D; depression: 5.00 vs 6.51, p = 0.002; anxiety: 8.04 vs. 6.34, p = 0.030). Regarding pancreatic-disease-specific symptoms (EORTC-QLQ-PAN26), patients with malignant disease reported increased problems with taste, weight loss, weakness in arms and legs, dry mouth, body image and troubling side effects at three months. Patients with benign disease indicated more weakness in arms and legs, troubling side effects but less future worries at three months., Conclusion: Patient-reported outcomes of patients undergoing pancreatic surgery for benign vs. malignant disease show important differences. Patients with malignant tumors report more severely decreased quality of life 3 months postoperatively than patients with benign tumors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the authors has a conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: The Hugo RAS robotic platform by Medtronic was recently certified for human use in Europe. Several centers have gained initial experience with this system in urology and gynecology. However, few data about its feasibility and safety in general surgery have been published., Methods: The first-in-human surgical procedures with the Hugo RAS in Germany were performed at our hospital in February 2023. We report our early experience with robotic cholecystectomy using this new platform. The primary aim was to test the setup guides of the manufacturer and to evaluate the safety and feasibility of Hugo RAS for this procedure., Results: A modified setup with two 11-mm ports and two 8-mm ports without an assistant port was used in 14 consecutive cases. A 30° or a 0° camera, a bipolar grasper or a Maryland on the left arm, a monopolar scissors on the right arm, and a double-fenestrated grasper on the additional arm were mounted. Clip application and gallbladder extraction were performed by the bedside assistant through the right arm 11-mm port. There were no complications, no adverse events, and no conversions. Arm collisions were reduced through slight corrections in trocar positions., Conclusion: Robotic-assisted cholecystectomy with the Hugo RAS was safe and feasible. The modularity of robotic arms allows individual setup modifications which may be of advantage for patients and surgeons., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: Surgical risk calculators can estimate risk probabilities for postoperative outcomes utilizing patient-specific risk factors. They provide meaningful information for obtaining informed consent. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the predictive value of the surgical risk calculators by the American College of Surgeons in German patients undergoing total pancreatectomy., Methods: Data for patients who underwent total pancreatectomy between 2014 and 2018 were acquired from the Study, Documentation, and Quality Center of the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery. Risk factors were entered manually into the surgical risk calculators and calculated risks were compared with actual outcomes., Results: Of the 408 patients analysed, predicted risk was higher in patients with complications except for the prediction of re-admission (P = 0.127), delayed gastric emptying (P = 0.243), and thrombosis (P = 0.256). In contrast, classification of patients into below, above, or average risk by the surgical risk calculators only produced meaningful results for discharge to nursing facility (P < 0.001), renal failure (P = 0.003), pneumonia (P = 0.001), serious complications, and overall morbidity (both P < 0.001). Assessment of discrimination and calibration showed poor results (scaled Brier scores 8.46 per cent or less)., Conclusion: Overall surgical risk calculator performance was poor. This finding promotes the development of a specific surgical risk calculator applicable to the German healthcare system., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of BJS Society Ltd.)

Due to its rising incidence, pancreatic neoplasia, which mainly include adenocarcinomas, neuroendocrine and cystic neoplasia of the pancreas, is becoming increasingly relevant in everyday clinical practice.Based on a systematic literature search, a working group of pancreatic experts developed evidence-based recommendations for surgical indications in pancreatic neoplasia to improve the quality.There is a clear surgical indication for primary or secondary resectable pancreatic carcinomas without metastasis, for functionally active, symptomatic and functionally inactive neuroendocrine neoplasia of more than 2 cm in size and for cystic neoplasm with symptoms or signs of malignancy including all intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasia (IPMN) of the main duct and mixed type, all mucinous-cystic neoplasia (MCN) > 4 cm and all solid pseudopapillary neoplasia (SPN). Surgery can be indicated for pancreatic carcinomas with isolated arterial vascular infiltration or for long periods of stable oligometastasis, regarding neuroendocrine neoplasias for metastasis or debulking surgery as well as for branch-duct IPMN with risk criteria and MCN <4 cm. There is no primary indication for surgery in locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer or asymptomatic serous-cystic neoplasia (SCN).The indication for surgery should always be individualized taking into account age, comorbidities and patient wishes., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

The incidence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is continuously increasing and will become the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Europe and the USA by 2030. With a 5-year overall survival rate of less than 10% the prognosis remains poor. So far surgical tumor resection remains the only curative treatment option, which is now partially supported by multimodal neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy concepts. Due to the aggressive tumor biology patients with advanced pancreatic cancer in particular can profit from these multimodal therapy concepts. Additionally, in recent years surgical treatment was optimized, the criteria for tumor resectablity were defined and minimally invasive surgery was widely introduced. This review article summarizes the newest developments and the new German S3 guidelines concerning surgery of pancreatic cancer., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Background: Aberrant right hepatic arteries (aRHA) are frequently encountered during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Their effects on surgical morbidity and resection margin are still debated. This study aimed to compare the short term and long term outcomes in patients with and without aRHA., Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis of 353 consecutive PD during a 5-year period was done. The type of arterial supply was determined preoperatively by CT and confirmed at surgery. Hiatt types III-VI included some type of aRHA and comprised the study group. Hiatt types I and II were considered irrelevant for PD and used as controls. Primary endpoints were the rates of major postoperative complications and the rate of R0-resection in cases of malignant disease. Secondary endpoints included duration of surgery, postoperative stay, number of harvested lymph nodes and survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. Own results were compared to existent data using a systematic review of the literature., Results: No aRHA had to be sacrificed or reconstructed. Surgical morbidity and specific complications such as post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH), pancreatic fistula and bile leak were the same in patients with and without aRHA. There was no significant difference in operative time, blood loss, length of ICU- and hospital stay. Patients with malignancy had similar high rates of R0-resection and identical number of harvested lymph nodes. Survival of patients with pancreatic cancer was not affected by aRHA., Conclusions: aRHA may be preserved in virtually all cases of PD for resectable pancreatic head lesions without increasing surgical morbidity and without compromising oncological radicality in patients with cancer, provided the variant anatomy is being recognised on preoperative CT and a meticulous surgical technique is used., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://hbsn.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/hbsn-20-352/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2022 Hepatobiliary Surgery and Nutrition. All rights reserved.)

Background: Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is one of the most common complications after pancreatic head resection. It leads to increased length of hospital stay, high costs for healthcare systems and reduced quality of life. The primary aim of the study was to assess the impact of pylorus preservation, respectively resection on the occurrence of DGE in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD)., Methods: All cases of pylorus-resecting PD (PRPD) and pylorus-preserving PD (PPPD) entered in the StuDoQ|Pancreas nationwide registry of the German Society of General and Visceral Surgery from 01/01/2014 until 31/12/2018 including demographics, surgical techniques, histopathological and perioperative data were retrospectively analyzed. This study was approved by the ethics committee of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany., Results: Data of 5,080 patients were enrolled. PPPD was the method of choice (70.4%). Pylorus preservation had no impact on the occurrence of DGE (20.3% vs. 21.5%, P=0.33), but further risk factors could be identified. The comparison of PPPD and PRPD groups showed statistically significant differences in the surgical approach (primary open approach, 94.8% vs. 98.0%, P<0.001), duration of surgery (326.4 vs. 352.1 minutes, P<0.001), technique of pancreatic anastomosis (pancreaticojejunostomy vs. pancreaticojejunostomy), 78.6% vs. 85.2%, P<0.001)., Conclusions: Patient factors, intraoperative factors, duration of surgery and postoperative factors (postoperative pancreatic fistula, biliary leakage and other surgical complications) were identified as risk factors for DGE. Future research should focus on register-based, prospective, randomised-controlled studies such as the currently recruiting "PyloResPres trial"., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://gs.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/gs-21-645/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2022 Gland Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: Current guidelines discourage surgery for serous cystic neoplasms (SCN) of the pancreas, because of their benign character, slow growth, and excellent prognosis. Nevertheless, SCN continue to contribute up to 30% of resected cystic pancreatic lesions worldwide., Methods: Spectrum of indications and outcomes of surgery were analysed in a retrospective series of 133 SCN at a single high-volume center in Germany between 2004 and 2019., Results: Relevant symptoms justified surgery in 60% of patients with SCN, while 40% underwent surgery because of preoperative diagnostic uncertainty about suspected malignancy. There were 4 malignant SCN (3%). Ninety-day mortality was 0.75%, major morbidity - 15%, 10-year survival - 95%. Risks of malignant transformation and of postoperative mortality were similarly low., Conclusions: Surgery is reasonable and safe for symptomatic patients with SCN. Preoperative diagnostic uncertainty is the main reason for futile resections of benign asymptomatic SCN. Conservative management with close initial surveillance should be the first choice for this population. Surgery for supposed SCN without symptoms is justified only in carefully selected patients with suspected malignancy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has the worst prognosis of all malignant tumors due to unavailable screening methods, late diagnosis with a low proportion of resectable tumors and resistance to systemic treatment. Complete tumor resection remains the cornerstone of modern multimodal strategies aiming at long-term survival. This study was performed to investigate the overall rate of long-term survival (LTS) and its contributing factors., Methods: This was a retrospective single-center analysis of consecutive patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for PDAC between 2007 and 2014 at the St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed and evaluated for prediction of LTS with Cox regression analysis., Results: The overall rate of LTS after PD for PDAC was 20.4% (34/167). Median survival was 24 months regardless of adjuvant treatment. Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels, tumor grade, lymph vessel invasion, perineural invasion and reduced general condition were significantly associated with LTS in univariate analysis (P < 0.05). Serum levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, tumor grade, abdominal pain, male, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and duration of postoperative hospital stay were independent predictors of cancer survival in multivariable analysis., Conclusions: Cancer related characteristics are associated with LTS in multimodally treated patients after curative PDAC surgery., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)