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Background: There are limited data on the effect of different sutures and surgical approaches on the quality of pancreaticojejunostomy in minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD). This study compares the incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) between the use of barbed sutures (BSs) and conventional sutures (CSs). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 253 consecutive patients who had undergone MIPD from July 2016 to April 2023. Patients were excluded if conversion to open surgery or open anastomosis was necessary. 220 patients were enrolled and divided into BS (n = 148) and CS (n = 72) groups. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), 67 cases remained in each group. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified factors associated with CR-POPF. Comparisons were also made between laparoscopic (LPD) and robotic (RPD) pancreaticoduodenectomy. Results: After PSM, BSs were associated with significantly lower rates of CR-POPF (7.5 vs. 22.4%, P = 0.015) and severe complications (Clavien–Dindo ≥ III) (7.5vs. 19.4%, P = 0.043). No significant differences were found in operative time, length of postoperative hospital stay, or other major morbidities. Multivariate analyses revealed BMI ≥ 22 kg/m2 (OR = 5.048, 95% CI: 1.256–20.287, P = 0.023) and the use of BSs (OR = 0.196, 95% CI: 0.059–0.653, P = 0.008) as the independent predictors of CR-POPF. There were no significant differences in postoperative outcomes between the LPD and RPD groups, but RPD was associated with significantly shorter operative time (402.8 min vs. 429.4 min, P = 0.015). Conclusions: In conclusion, using BSs for PJ during MIPD is feasible and has the potential to reduce CR-POPF and severe complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a new technique for pancreaticojejunostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy to reduce the risk of postoperative pancreatic fistula. The study included 141 patients and found that the single-layer interrupted spoke wheel suture technique showed promising outcomes. Factors like soft pancreas, narrow main pancreatic duct, and high BMI did not show associations with clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula. The technique described in the article may offer a safer option for specific situations, although it does not claim superiority over other pancreaticoenteric anastomosis techniques. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct (PD) drainage (EUS-PDD) is being increasingly performed as an alternative method to surgical drainage to achieve PD decompression after failed endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP). However, no directly study has compared EUS-PDD with surgical PD drainage after failed ERP in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent EUS-PDD or longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy after failed ERP were retrospectively identified from our endoscopy and medical information systems. The primary end point was the Izbicki pain score. The secondary end points were pain relief at the end of follow-up, procedure outcomes, adverse events, readmission, and reintervention. Results: A total of 21 patients (11 EUS-PDD, 10 surgical drainages) were analyzed. There were no significant differences in mean Izbicki pain score (EUS-PDD, 13.6 ± 10.1 vs. surgical drainage 10.7 ± 7.9, p = 0.483) or complete/partial pain relief (60%/30% vs. 70%/30%, p = 0.752) at the end of follow-up of the two groups. The rates of overall adverse events (27.3% vs. 30.0%, p = 0.893) and readmission (63.6% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.290) were similar in the two treatment groups, while patients in EUS-PDD group required more reinterventions (45.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.039) compared with patients in the surgery group. Conclusion: EUS-PDD showed comparable pain relief and safety to surgical PD drainage after failed ERP, with a higher rate of reintervention. The selection of EUS-PDD or surgical drainage may be appropriate based on an individualized strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A post-operative pancreatic fistula is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. We compared two methods of reconstruction of pancreaticojejunal anastomosis, an isolated loop with a single loop, to assess their effects on the incidence and severity of fistula. The data was collected in an ambispective manner. The drain fluid was sent for amylase measurement on post-operative day 3 and a fistula was defined and classified according to the 2016 modification of the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery definition. The patients were divided into the isolated (Group I) and single (Group II) loop groups and compared for the incidence and severity of clinically relevant fistula along with other parameters. A total of 349 (Group I: 201, Group II: 148) patients were included in the study. The incidence of clinically relevant fistula was comparable (p = 0.206). Grade C fistula was found to be lower in the group I (7 % vs 11.6 %, p = 0.137), in patients with a soft pancreas (8.5 % vs 18.3 %, p = 0.049) and pancreatic duct diameter less than 5 mm (9.8 % vs 17.2 %, p = 0.036). The operative time was lower in Group I than in Group II (438 min vs 478, p < 0.001). We found that the incidence of clinically relevant fistula was similar in both the groups but the isolated reconstruction method reduced the incidence of severe fistula. In patients with a smaller pancreatic duct, soft pancreas echotexture and obesity, it provides a safer alternative and can be performed in less time than a single loop reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: No single technique of remnant pancreas reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has been demonstrated to be superior to the others in the prevention of post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF), and the accumulation of surgical experience is closely related to the quality of this anastomosis. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility and patient outcomes of a simplified technique involving a single-layer continuous pancreaticojejunostomy (PJA) with Falciform ligament reinforcement that can be used with all types of pancreases. Methods: A single-centre and single-surgeon study was performed. One hundred consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic resection with subsequent PJA using a novel technique performed by a single surgeon were included in the study. Patient demographics, pre-operative treatments, risk factors for POPF, and post-operative morbidity and mortality and long-term patient outcome were prospectively recorded and reported. Results: From March 2018 to March 2022, 59 male and 41 female patients were included. 91 patients underwent PD for malignancy with 32 receiving neoadjuvant treatment. 59 patients were classified as intermediate/high risk for POPF according to validated fistula prediction models. There were 12 POPF Type B and 2 POPF Type C. The overall morbidity rate was 16% with no 90-day mortality. 3 patients underwent reoperation. The median length of hospitalisation was 12.6 days and 82% of eligible patients commenced and completed adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion: Single-layer continuous dunking PJA with Falciform ligament reinforcement is a simplified and feasible method for PJA with a low associated complication rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 72-year-old male patient presented to our department complaining of with upper abdominal pain and jaundice. He had a history of a side-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy performed 40 years previously for chronic pancreatitis. A diagnostic workup revealed a tumor 3 cm in size in the pancreatic head as the etiology of the jaundice. Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed with resectable pancreatic cancer. Following two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, an extended pancreatoduodenectomy was performed because of tumor invasion at the previous pancreaticojejunostomy site. Concurrent portal vein resection and reconstruction were performed. Pathological examination confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma (T2N1M0, Stage IIB). This case highlights the clinical challenges in pancreatic head carcinoma following a side-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy. Although pancreaticojejunostomy is believed to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer in patients with chronic pancreatitis, clinicians should be aware that, even after this surgery, there is still a chance of developing pancreatic cancer during long-term follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of minimally invasive robotic surgery has always been the focus of the discipline. Pancreaticoduodenectomy has been regarded as the "Mount Everest" of surgical operations because of its high risk and mounting difficulty. Standardized surgical steps and easy-to-follow operation techniques are helpful to promote the application of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD). Therefore, in this paper, we summarize the RPD to form an 18-step surgery procedure and analyze the key points of circumferential vessel resection and reconstructive anastomosis techniques, based on the experience of RPD at the First Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, with the hope of promoting the in-depth application of robotics in pancreatic surgery and furthering the establishment of RPD application standards.

Background: Minimally invasive surgery provides an unprecedented opportunity to review video for assessing surgical performance. Surgical video analysis is time-consuming and expensive. Deep learning provides an alternative for analysis. Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) is a complex and morbid operation. Surgeon technical performance of pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) has been associated with postoperative pancreatic fistula. In this work, we aimed to utilize deep learning to automatically segment PJ RPD videos. Methods: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected videos from 2011 to 2022 that were in libraries at tertiary referral centers, including 111 PJ videos. Each frame of a robotic PJ video was categorized based on 6 tasks. A 3D convolutional neural network was trained for frame-level visual feature extraction and classification. All the videos were manually annotated for the start and end of each task. Results: Of the 100 videos assessed, 60 videos were used for the training the model, 10 for hyperparameter optimization, and 30 for the testing of performance. All the frames were extracted (6 frames/second) and annotated. The accuracy and mean per-class F1 scores were 88.01% and 85.34% for tasks. Conclusion: The deep learning model performed well for automated segmentation of PJ videos. Future work will focus on skills assessment and outcome prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: A stapler is usually used for transection and closure of the pancreas in distal pancreatectomy (DP) or central pancreatectomy (CP). When the pancreas is transected to the right of the portal vein, it is difficult to use a stapler and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) frequently occurs. We report on the efficacy of pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) of the pancreatic stump for patients in whom stapler use is difficult. Methods: Patients who underwent DP or CP were enrolled in this study. The pancreas was usually transected by a stapler, and ultrasonic coagulating shears (UCS) were used depending on the tumor situation. When using UCS, hand-sewn closure or PJ was performed for the pancreatic stump. The relationship between clinicopathological factors and the methods of pancreatic transection and closure were investigated. Results: In total, 164 patients underwent DP or CP, and the pancreas was transected with a stapler in 150 patients and UCS in 14 patients. The rate of CR-POPF was higher and the postoperative hospital stay was longer in the UCS group than in the stapler group. PJ of the pancreatic stump, which was performed for 7 patients, did not worsen intraoperative factors. CR-POPF was not seen in these 7 patients, which was significantly less than that with hand-sewn closure. Conclusions: PJ of the pancreatic stump during DP or CP reduces CR-POPF compared with hand-sewn closure and may be useful especially when the pancreas is transected to the right of the portal vein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula is influenced by the effectiveness of the pancreaticojejunostomy, and the most suitable pancreaticojejunostomy for pancreaticoduodenectomy remains uncertain. Since grade A postoperative pancreatic fistula is no longer considered a true fistula, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the effectiveness of duct-to-mucosa anastomosis and invagination anastomosis in reducing the incidence of grade B/C postoperative pancreatic fistula. The meta-analysis was conducted using software Review Manager 5.3, and the fixed-effect model was employed for pooled statistic calculations. The Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool was utilized for quality assessment. Ten randomized controlled trials from Embase, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library (1990.01–2022.10) including 1471 patients, met the inclusion criteria. This meta-analysis has been registered on PROSPERO with the registration number CRD42023491673. The incidence of grade B/C fistula was significantly lower in the invagination group (7.7 %) compared to the duct-to-mucosa group (12.8 %, mostly Cattell manner)(RR = 1.65, 95%CI: 1.14–2.39, P = 0.008; heterogeneity: P = 0.008, I2 = 68 %),heterogeneity among the results was addressed through sensitivity analysis. In patients with a soft pancreas, the incidence of grade B/C fistula was significantly lower in those who underwent invagination anastomosis (10 %) compared to those who underwent duct-to-mucosa anastomosis (41.9 %)(RR = 4.19, 95%CI: 1.33–13.25, P = 0.01).No significant differences were observed in terms of the occurrence of grade B/C fistula in firm pancreas, postoperative mortality, other major postoperative complications, anastomosis time, and postoperative bile leak. Therefore, we concluded that invagination anastomosis is significantly superior to duct-to-mucosa anastomosis in reducing the incidence of grade B/C fistula, especially in patients with a soft pancreas.

Pancreatic surgery is nowadays considered one of the most complex surgical approaches and not unscathed from complications. After the surgical procedure, cross-sectional imaging is considered the non-invasive reference standard to detect early and late compilations, and consequently to address patients to the best management possible. Contras-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) should be considered the most important and useful imaging technique to evaluate the surgical site. Thanks to its speed, contrast, and spatial resolution, it can help reach the final diagnosis with high accuracy. On the other hand, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be considered as a second-line imaging approach, especially for the evaluation of biliary findings and late complications. In both cases, the radiologist should be aware of protocols and what to look at, to create a robust dialogue with the surgeon and outline a fitted treatment for each patient.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of double U-stitch and modified “double U-stitch pancreaticojejunostomy” in pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical information of 150 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between January 2022 and September 2023 in Wang Wei’s team in department of pancreatic surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. The patients were divided into two groups according to the pancreaticojejunostomy method: the double U-stitch 1.0 group (70 cases before modification) and the double U-stitch 2.0 group (80 cases after modification). The postoperative complications of the two groups were compared. Results The overall postoperative complications were significantly lower in the double U-stitch 2.0 group as compared with the double U-stitch 1.0 group (13.8% vs. 38.6%, P=0.001). The incidence of clinically relevant pancreatic fistula was 18.6% in the double U-stitch 1.0 group, while this was significantly decreased in the double U-stitch 2.0 group (6.3%) (P=0.021). Postoperative extraluminal hemorrhage occurred in 5 patients in the double U-stitch 1.0 group, while in the double U-stitch 2.0 group, only one patient experienced postoperative intraluminal hemorrhage, the difference was statistically significant between two groups (P=0.007). The median postoperative length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the double U-stitch 2.0 group than that in the double U-stitch 1.0 group (11 d vs. 14 d, P=0.001). Conclusions The modified “double U-stitch pancreaticojejunostomy” can significantly reduce the incidence of clinically relevant pancreatic fistula and other relevant severe complications, which helps improve the safety of the procedure.

Abstract Background Among the safest procedures for anastomosis in pancreaticoduodenectomy, Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy is associated with low rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and postoperative complications. However, this technique is difficult to perform during laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). This study presents a modified Blumgart method using a homemade crochet needle to facilitate laparoscopic pancreaticojejunostomy and evaluates its safety and reliability. Methods From February 2019 to October 2022, 96 LPD surgeries with the new technique were performed by the same surgeons in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The operative details (operative time, pancreaticojejunostomy time, POPF rate, postoperative complication rate, mortality rate) were analyzed along with clinical and pathological indicators (pancreatic duct diameter, pancreatic texture, and histopathological findings). Results There were 54 men and 42 women with a mean age of 63.38 ± 10.41 years. The intraoperative bleeding volume, operative time and postoperative length of hospital stay were 198.43 ± 132.97 mL, 445.30 ± 87.05 min and 13.68 ± 4.02 days, respectively. The operation time of pancreaticojejunostomy was 66.28 ± 10.17 min. Clinically relevant POPFs (grades B and C) occurred in 14.6% of patients. Only one patient had postoperative abdominal hemorrhage and was cured after reoperation. There were no operative or in-hospital deaths. With our proposed modification, the pancreatic duct and jejunal orifice are aligned correctly during duct-to-mucosa (DTM) after the application of external traction through the homemade crochet needle. The space between the posterior wall of pancreatic remnant and jejunal loop can be exposed by adjusting the tension of the external threads, which can facilitate DTM. Conclusions A modified Blumgart method using a homemade crochet needle could be technically feasible and safe during LPD. A randomized control trial is needed to confirm these findings.

Background. Pancreatoduodenectomy is a radical surgical intervention in case of neoplasms of the pancreatoduodenal zone, which is accompanied by frequent postoperative complications. The critical point of the reconstructive stage of pancreatoduodenectomy is pancreaticojejunostomy (PES), which dictates the importance of improving the techniques of its repair and drainage, as well as the development of a differentiated approach to the choice of PES. The aim of the study: to evaluate the effectiveness of a differentiated approach to the choice of PES technique when performing pancreatoduodenectomy. Materials and methods. The study included 302 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic neoplasms. The age of patients varied from 31 to 77 years, there were 178 (58.9 %) men, and 124 (41.1 %) women. In the comparison group (154 patients), a standard diagnostic and treatment algorithm was used with the choice of PES technique taking into account the intraoperative evaluation of the degree of the pancreatic parenchyma density and the assessment of the ductal system (surgeon’s experience and intuition). In the main group (148 patients), an improved diagnostic and treatment algorithm was used, which included non-invasive preoperative methods of visualization of changes in the pancreatic parenchyma, anatomical features of its isthmus and ductal system, as well as the use of developed methods for repair and drainage of the PES. Results. In the main group, the applied differentiated approach to the selection of PES consisted in the fact that at the preoperative stage, the degree of risk of developing pancreatic fistula (PF) was predicted: in 66 (44.6 %) patients, a low risk was detected, in 42 (28.4 %) — a moderate risk, 40 (27.0 %) people had a high risk. Identification of patients with a high risk of developing PF made it possible to carry out the necessary medical measures not only in the operating room, but also in the pre-operative stage, which affected a decrease in the frequency of severe forms of PF. Specifically, in the compari­son group, type B was noted 2.5 times (χ2 = 3.94; p = 0.047) and type C — 6.4 times (p = 0.034 according to Fisher’s exact test) more often than in the main group. This became the basis for the development of PES techniques with plastic covering of the anastomotic zone and improvement of PES drainage techniques with simultaneous drainage of the biliodigestive anastomosis. The developed differentiated approach to the choice of PES method based on the preoperative assessment of the risk of PF made it possible to reduce the frequency of its development, especially severe forms (types B and C) from 16.2 % of cases in the comparison group to 5.4 % in main group (χ2 = 8.01; p = 0.005). Mortality due to pancreatic fistula in the main group was 0.7 %, in the comparison group — 4.8 % (p = 0.034, Fisher’s exact test). Conclusions. Carrying out a preoperative non-invasive assessment of the degree of changes in the pancreatic parenchyma and the state of the duct of Wirsung by means of fibroelastography and computer tomography made it possible to develop a differentiated approach to the choice of PES technique, taking into account the prediction of the risk of PF in the postoperative period (sensitivity — 90.5 %, specificity — 81, 8 %, diagnostic accuracy — 86.1 %). The use of the developed methods with a falciform ligament wrap and cholangiodrainage to drain PES in soft pancreas made it possible to reduce in half the frequency of PF development (p

Background: Among the safest procedures for anastomosis in pancreaticoduodenectomy, Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy is associated with low rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and postoperative complications. However, this technique is difficult to perform during laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). This study presents a modified Blumgart method using a homemade crochet needle to facilitate laparoscopic pancreaticojejunostomy and evaluates its safety and reliability. Methods: From February 2019 to October 2022, 96 LPD surgeries with the new technique were performed by the same surgeons in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The operative details (operative time, pancreaticojejunostomy time, POPF rate, postoperative complication rate, mortality rate) were analyzed along with clinical and pathological indicators (pancreatic duct diameter, pancreatic texture, and histopathological findings). Results: There were 54 men and 42 women with a mean age of 63.38 ± 10.41 years. The intraoperative bleeding volume, operative time and postoperative length of hospital stay were 198.43 ± 132.97 mL, 445.30 ± 87.05 min and 13.68 ± 4.02 days, respectively. The operation time of pancreaticojejunostomy was 66.28 ± 10.17 min. Clinically relevant POPFs (grades B and C) occurred in 14.6% of patients. Only one patient had postoperative abdominal hemorrhage and was cured after reoperation. There were no operative or in-hospital deaths. With our proposed modification, the pancreatic duct and jejunal orifice are aligned correctly during duct-to-mucosa (DTM) after the application of external traction through the homemade crochet needle. The space between the posterior wall of pancreatic remnant and jejunal loop can be exposed by adjusting the tension of the external threads, which can facilitate DTM. Conclusions: A modified Blumgart method using a homemade crochet needle could be technically feasible and safe during LPD. A randomized control trial is needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backround. Pancreaticojejunal anastomosis has a high risk of pancreatic leakage, which several surgical techniques have been described. Our main objective is to determine what is the association of postoperative pancreatic leakage in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy according to the pancreaticojejunal anastomosis technique used (Cattel vs Blumgart)? Material and methods. Historical cohort, all cancer patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy were included. From April 2020 to May 2021, Cattel technique was used; from June 2021 to June 2022, Blumgart technique was used. All procedures were performed by a single board-certified surgical oncologist at Oncology Hospital. Results. 24 patients (11 men and 13 women). The first 9 procedures were performed with the Cattel technique, starting from procedure 10, the Blumgart technique was used. No differences were observed regarding the consistency of the pancreas (p=0.28) or the size of the duct (p=0.51) between the two groups. Pancreatic leakage was observed in 100% with the Cattel technique and in 6.7% with the Blumgart technique (p= 0.0001). An amylase value was observed in the left drainage at 6 days > 200 U/L with the Cattel technique and < 200 U/L with Blumgart (p=0.0001). Intraoperative bleeding (Cattel 1200 ml vs. Blumgart 400 ml, p= 0.03) and 90-day mortality (Cattel 33.3% vs. Blumgart 0%, Log-Rank: 0.022) also showed a difference in favor of Blumgart technique. Blumgart technique is a protective factor for the presence of pancreatic leakage (RR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.44, p=0.0001). Discussion. A lower risk of pancreatic leakage was found using the Blumgart technique, compared to the Cattel technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to reduce grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) incidence after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is the pursuit of pancreatic surgeons. This study introduced an innovative pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) technique with a complete set of perioperative management. All 144 patients in this single-center retrospective cohort study underwent the same PJ technique and perioperative management. The primary endpoint was grade C POPF incidence. The secondary endpoints were grade B POPF rate, drain fluid amylase level, complications, hospital stay duration, and mortality. Risk factors for clinically-relevant POPF (CR-POPF) were assessed by logistic regression analysis. No patient (0.0%) experienced grade C POPF, while 44 (30.6%) developed grade B. No in-hospital death was recorded. Multivariate analysis found relatively high body mass index, laparoscopic surgery, and soft or moderate pancreatic texture independent risk factors for CR-POPF. Our novel PJ anastomosis with modified perioperative management helped avoid grade C POPF. However, grade B POPF incidence was relatively high to some extent because of the enhanced management itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) was shown to be an effective method for pancreaticojejunostomy in open pancreaticoduodenectomy. But the original Blumgart method is involved in complicated and interrupted sutures, which may not be suitable for the laparoscopic approach. In this study, we introduced a simplified Blumgart method for laparoscopic pancreaticojejunostomy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 90 cases of pancreaticoduodenectomy in our institute from 2019 to 2022. Among them, 32 patients received LPD with simplified Blumgart PJ, while 29 received LPD with traditional duct-to-mucosal anastomosis (the Cattel-Warren technique) and 29 received OPD with traditional duct-to-mucosal anastomosis. And the time length for PJ and the surgical outcome were compared in these three groups. Results The simplified Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy was accomplished in all 32 cases with no conversion to open surgery due to improper sutures. And the time length for laparoscopic simplified Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy was 26 ± 8.4 min, which was shorter than laparoscopic traditional ductal to mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy (39 ± 13.7 min). Importantly, the overall incidence for POPF and grade B&C POPF rate in the laparoscopic simplified Blumgart method group were 25% and 9.38% respectively, which were lower than the other two groups. Moreover, we performed univariate analysis and multivariate analysis and found soft pancreas, pancreatic ductal diameter

Abstract Background and Objective It 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. Methods Patients 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. Results Overall, 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). Conclusions Wrapping 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.

Introduction: To investigate the application potential of single-layer continuous duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy with two figure-of-eight sutures ("1 + 2" PJ) in total laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (TLPD). Explore the advantages of "1 + 2" PJ over the traditional double-layer interrupted duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy (traditional PJ). Methods: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 184 patients who were admitted in our department from Oct 2019 to Oct 2022, including 95 cases who underwent TLPD with "1 + 2" PJ and 89 cases who underwent TLPD with traditional PJ. The pre/intra/postoperation data were analyzed and compared. Results: The "1 + 2" PJ procedures were successfully performed in all the 95 cases. When compared with the traditional PJ group, there were no statistically significant variations between the pre-operative and pathological data. However, the "1 + 2" PJ group had a shorter operation time (235 (210, 300) minutes vs. 310 (270, 360) minutes in the traditional PJ group, P < 0.001), shorter pancreaticojejunostomy time (15 (10, 20) minutes vs. 50 (45, 55) minutes in the traditional PJ group, P < 0.001), lower pancreatic fistula (both grade B/C) rate (4.21% vs. 12.34% in the traditional group, P = 0.044), and abdominal infection rate (2.11% vs. 8.99% in the traditional group, P = 0.044), as well as reduced hospital stay (11 (9, 15) days vs. 13 (11, 15) days in the traditional PJ group, P = 0.013). In the "1 + 2" PJ group, the median diameter of the pancreatic duct was 3 (3, 4) mm; 82 cases (86.31%) had a normal pancreatic texture, while nine (9.47%) cases had a hard texture, and seven (7.37%) cases had a soft texture; the median intraoperative blood loss was 200 (100, 400) mL and 19 cases (20.00%) needed intraoperative transfusion; eight cases (8.4%) developed postoperative complications, including four cases (4.2%) of pancreatic fistula (including both grade B/C), one case (1.1%) of bile leakage, three cases (3.2%) of delayed gastric emptying, three cases (3.2%) of postoperative hemorrhage, two cases (2.1%) of abdominal infection, and one case (1.1%) of reoperation; the median hospital stay was 13 (8, 17) days; 25 cases were pathologically classified as pancreatic cancer, 35 cases as bile duct cancer, 23 cases as duodenal cancer, and 12 cases as ampullary cancer. Conclusion: Single-layer continuous duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy with two figure-of-eight sutures is a feasible and safe procedure that can be applied in TLPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) was shown to be an effective method for pancreaticojejunostomy in open pancreaticoduodenectomy. But the original Blumgart method is involved in complicated and interrupted sutures, which may not be suitable for the laparoscopic approach. In this study, we introduced a simplified Blumgart method for laparoscopic pancreaticojejunostomy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 90 cases of pancreaticoduodenectomy in our institute from 2019 to 2022. Among them, 32 patients received LPD with simplified Blumgart PJ, while 29 received LPD with traditional duct-to-mucosal anastomosis (the Cattel-Warren technique) and 29 received OPD with traditional duct-to-mucosal anastomosis. And the time length for PJ and the surgical outcome were compared in these three groups. Results: The simplified Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy was accomplished in all 32 cases with no conversion to open surgery due to improper sutures. And the time length for laparoscopic simplified Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy was 26 ± 8.4 min, which was shorter than laparoscopic traditional ductal to mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy (39 ± 13.7 min). Importantly, the overall incidence for POPF and grade B&C POPF rate in the laparoscopic simplified Blumgart method group were 25% and 9.38% respectively, which were lower than the other two groups. Moreover, we performed univariate analysis and multivariate analysis and found soft pancreas, pancreatic ductal diameter < = 3 mm and intraoperative blood loss were independent risk factors for POPF after PD. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the simplified Blumgart method is a feasible and reliable method for laparoscopic PJ which deserves further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the learning curve of pancreaticojejunostomy during robotic pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD) and to predict the risk of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) by using the objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS), taking the fistula risk into account. Background: RPD is a challenging procedure that requires extensive training and confirmation of adequate surgical performance. Video grading, modified for RPD, of the pancreatic anastomosis could assess the learning curve of RPD and predict the risk of POPF. Methods: Post hoc assessment of patients prospectively included in 4 Dutch centers in a nationwide LAELAPS-3 training program for RPD. Video grading of the pancreaticojejunostomy was performed by 2 graders using OSATS (attainable score: 12--60). The main outcomes were the combined OSATS of the 2 graders and POPF (grade B/C). Cumulative sum analyzed a turning point in the learning curve for surgical skill. Logistic regression determined the cutoff for OSATS. Patients were categorized for POPF risk (ie, low, intermediate, and high) based on the updated alternative fistula risk scores. Results: Videos from 153 pancreatic anastomoses were included. Median OSATS score was 48 (interquartile range: 41--52) points and with a turning point at 33 procedures. POPF occurred in 39 patients (25.5%). An OSATS score below 49, present in 77 patients (50.3%), was associated with an increased risk of POPF (odds ratio: 4.01, P=0.004). The POPF rate was 43.6% with OSATS < 49 versus 15.8% with OSATS ≥ 49. The updated alternative fistula risk scores category "soft pancreatic texture" was the second strongest prognostic factor of POPF (odds ratio: 3.37, P= 0.040). Median cumulative surgical experience was 17 years (interquartile range: 8--21). Conclusions: Video grading of the pancreatic anastomosis in RPD using OSATS identified a learning curve and a reduced risk of POPF in case of better surgical performance. Video grading may provide a valid method to surgical training, quality control, and improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy; Pancreaticojejunostomy; Clinically relevant pancreatic fistula EN Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy Pancreaticojejunostomy Clinically relevant pancreatic fistula 2205 2208 4 10/18/23 20231001 NES 231001 Jia-Yi Wu and Yu Zheng contributed equally to this work. For anterior side of section B, we placed another 3-0 polypropylene suture through the anterior layer of the pancreatic parenchyma and anterior jejunum incision via the plastic catheter (Fig. D Anastomosis of section B1 was created between the anterior layer of the pancreatic parenchyma and anterior jejunum incision via the plastic catheter using another 3-0 Prolene, tightened the thread and finished with 1 stitch. [Extracted from the article]

Despite the substantial decrease in mortality rates following a pancreaticoduodenectomy to less than 5%, morbidity rates remain significant, reaching even 73%. Postoperative pancreatic fistula is one of the most frequent major complications and is significantly associated with other complications, including patient death. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the ideal type of pancreatic anastomosis, as the question of the choice between a pancreaticogastrostomy and pancreaticojejunostomy is still open. Furthermore, worldwide implementation of an ideal pancreatic fistula risk prediction score is missing. Our study found several significant predictive factors for the postoperative occurrence of fistulas, such as the soft consistency of the pancreas, non-dilated Wirsung duct, important intraoperative blood loss, other perioperative complications, preoperative patient hypoalbuminemia, and patient weight loss. Our study also revealed that for patients who exhibit fistula risk factors, pancreaticogastrostomy demonstrates a significantly lower pancreatic fistula rate than pancreaticojejunostomy. The occurrence of pancreatic fistulas has been significantly associated with the development of other postoperative major complications, and patient death. As the current pancreatic fistula risk scores proposed by various authors have not been consensually validated, we propose a simple, easy-to-use, and sensitive score for the risk prediction of postoperative pancreatic fistula occurrence based on important predictors from statistical analyses that have also been found to be significant by most of the reported studies. The new pancreatic fistula risk score proposed by us could be extremely useful for improved therapeutic management of cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Examine the potential benefit of total pancreatectomy (TP) as an alternative to pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) in patients at high risk for postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). Summary Background Data: TP is mentioned as an alternative to PD in patients at high risk for POPF, but a systematic review is lacking. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analyses using Pubmed, Embase (Ovid), and Cochrane Library to identify studies published up to October 2022, comparing elective single-stage TP for any indication versus PD in patients at high risk for POPF. The primary endpoint was short-term mortality. Secondary endpoints were major morbidity (i.e., Clavien- Dindo grade ≥IIIa) on the short-term and quality of life. Results: After screening 1212 unique records, five studies with 707 patients (334 TP and 373 high-risk PD) met the eligibility criteria, comprising one randomized controlled trial and four observational studies. The 90-day mortality after TP and PDdid not differ (6.3% vs. 6.2%; RR=1.04 [95%CI 0.56-1.93]). Major morbidity rate was lower after TP compared to PD (26.7% vs. 38.3%; RR=0.65 [95%CI 0.48-0.89]), but no significance was seen in matched/randomized studies (29.0% vs. 36.9%; RR = 0.73 [95%CI 0.48-1.10]). Two studies investigated quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) at a median of 30-52 months, demonstrating comparable global health status after TP and PD (77% [±15] vs. 76% [±20]; P=0.857). Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis found no reduction in short-term mortality and major morbidity after TP as compared to PD in patients at high risk for POPF. However, if TP is used as a bailout procedure, the comparable long-term quality of life is reassuring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Pancreatoduodenectomy is a radical surgical intervention in case of neoplasms of the pancreatoduodenal zone, which is accompanied by frequent postoperative complications. The critical point of the reconstructive stage of pancreatoduodenectomy is pancreaticojejunostomy (PES), which dictates the importance of improving the techniques of its repair and drainage, as well as the development of a differentiated approach to the choice of PES. The aim of the study: to evaluate the effectiveness of a differentiated approach to the choice of PES technique when performing pancreatoduodenectomy. Materials and methods. The study included 302 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic neoplasms. The age of patients varied from 31 to 77 years, there were 178 (58.9 %) men, and 124 (41.1 %) women. In the comparison group (154 patients), a standard diagnostic and treatment algorithm was used with the choice of PES technique taking into account the intraoperative evaluation of the degree of the pancreatic parenchyma density and the assessment of the ductal system (surgeon’s experience and intuition). In the main group (148 patients), an improved diagnostic and treatment algorithm was used, which included non-invasive preoperative methods of visualization of changes in the pancreatic parenchyma, anatomical features of its isthmus and ductal system, as well as the use of developed methods for repair and drainage of the PES. Results. In the main group, the applied differentiated approach to the selection of PES consisted in the fact that at the preoperative stage, the degree of risk of developing pancreatic fistula (PF) was predicted: in 66 (44.6 %) patients, a low risk was detected, in 42 (28.4 %) — a moderate risk, 40 (27.0 %) people had a high risk. Identification of patients with a high risk of developing PF made it possible to carry out the necessary medical measures not only in the operating room, but also in the pre-operative stage, which affected a decrease in the frequency of severe forms of PF. Specifically, in the comparison group, type B was noted 2.5 times (χ² = 3.94; p = 0.047) and type C — 6.4 times (p = 0.034 according to Fisher’s exact test) more often than in the main group. This became the basis for the development of PES techniques with plastic covering of the anastomotic zone and improvement of PES drainage techniques with simultaneous drainage of the biliodigestive anastomosis. The developed differentiated approach to the choice of PES method based on the preoperative assessment of the risk of PF made it possible to reduce the frequency of its development, especially severe forms (types B and C) from 16.2 % of cases in the comparison group to 5.4 % in main group (χ² = 8.01; p = 0.005). Mortality due to pancreatic fistula in the main group was 0.7 %, in the comparison group — 4.8 % (p = 0.034, Fisher’s exact test). Conclusions. Carrying out a preoperative non-invasive assessment of the degree of changes in the pancreatic parenchyma and the state of the duct of Wirsung by means of fibroelastography and computer tomography made it possible to develop a differentiated approach to the choice of PES technique, taking into account the prediction of the risk of PF in the postoperative period (sensitivity — 90.5 %, specificity — 81, 8 %, diagnostic accuracy — 86.1 %). The use of the developed methods with a falciform ligament wrap and cholangiodrainage to drain PES in soft pancreas made it possible to reduce in half the frequency of PF development (p < 0.05), which led to a decrease in mortality by almost 7 times (p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) development is a common complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Various surgical anastomosis techniques have been proposed to mitigate this risk. This study compares two techniques: the two-layer duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy (TLPJ) and the modified layer-to-layer end-to-side duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy with jejunal serosa resection (MLLPJ). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between January 2012 and December 2020. The primary outcome was the rate of biochemical leak and clinically relevant POPF (grades B and C POPFs). Results: The rate of biochemical leak was significantly higher in the TLPJ group than in the MLLPJ group (54.5% vs. 4.0%, P<0.001). Clinically relevant POPFs developed in 5.2% of all patients, with rates of 6.1% in the TLPJ group and 4.0% in the MLLPJ group. Patients with longer surgery durations, increased bleeding, and a soft pancreas texture had significantly higher risk of developing clinically relevant POPFs (P=0.009, P=0.039, and P=0.022, respectively). Conclusion: The MLLPJ anastomosis technique demonstrated a significant reduction in biochemical leak rates. However, the choice between TLPJ and MLLPJ did not significantly impact the rates of clinically relevant POPFs. Other factors, such as surgery duration, bleeding volume, and pancreas texture, were identified as significant risk factors for the development of these fistulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robot-assisted pancreatoduodenectomy (R-PD) may provide challenges but potential benefits for pancreatic-enteric anastomosis fashioning. Despite numerous trials comparing different pancreatic-enteric anastomosis techniques, an ideal method is still missing. This study aims to describe different management strategies and surgical techniques of standardized pancreatic-enteric anastomoses during an R-PD. This study reported the robotic technical steps of the modified end-to-side Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy, the Cattel-Warren duct-to-mucosa pancreatojejunostomy, with internal or external pancreatic duct stent, and the modified end-to-side, double-layer pancreogastrostomy. A dual-console da Vinci Xi Surgical System® (Intuitive Surgical Xi, Sunnyvale, CA) was used to perform all the R-PD. Different robotic pancreatic-enteric anastomosis techniques can be used during the reconstruction phase, possibly reproducing the open technique. The type of anastomosis and applied mitigation strategies should balance surgical strategy adaptability and operative technique standardization. R-PD should be performed in high-volume centers by surgeons with extensive experience in pancreatic and advanced MI surgery, enabling different but standardized anastomotic techniques based on patients' risk factors and intraoperative findings. Future studies on robotic pancreatic anastomosis should focus on personalized approaches after adequate risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Polyglycolic acid (PGA) felt has been used to prevent clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR‐POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). However, there has been no related research on Blumgart anastomosis. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the practical significance of Blumgart anastomosis with our new method involving PGA felt to prevent CR‐POPF following PD. Data from 133 consecutive patients who underwent Blumgart anastomosis during PD between June 2015 and November 2021 were reviewed. We applied PGA felt to 35 of these patients starting from July 2020. Surgical outcomes were analyzed by propensity score matching. Thirty‐five (35.7%) of the 98 patients in the without‐PGA group were matched with an equal number from the with‐PGA group after adjusting for covariates. CR‐POPF was found in 17 patients (49%) in the without‐PGA group and two patients (6%) in the with‐PGA group (P

Abstract Pancreaticoduodenectomy represents a major surgery for tumors located at the pancreatic head and the ampullary/periampullary region. This complex procedure is associated with a high morbidity rate. Many surgical techniques have been proposed in order to reduce mortality rates, although post-procedure complications represent a current problem. Different imaging findings and complications may appear depending on the surgical technique used. Hence, radiologists should be familiarized with them to distinguish normal findings from real complications. The most challenging scenarios are represented by abdominal fluid collections, and tumor recurrence, that may frequently mimic normal postsurgical changes.

Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is often associated with significant morbidity and mortality after the Whipple operation. Patient-related factors associated with POPF include soft pancreatic texture and a small main pancreatic duct (MPD). The traditional duct-to-mucosa anastomosis was modified to be easily performed. The aim of the study was to evaluate the simplified pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) method in the prevention of POPF after minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Methods: Ninety-eight patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) and robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) with a simplified PJ procedure containing only two duct-to-mucosa sutures and four penetrating-sutures to anastomose the pancreatic parenchyma and jejunal seromuscular layer in our center were retrospectively studied. Demographics and clinical short-term safety were assessed. Results: All LPD and RPD procedures were successfully performed. The median time of PJ was 17 min, and the median blood loss was 60 mL, with only one patient requiring transfusion. Four patients (4.1%) suffered from clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF), including four grade B cases and no grade C cases. For patients with an MPD diameter of 3 mm or less, POPF was noted in two (4%) of the fifty patients, with all cases being grade B. Of the patients with a soft pancreas, only two (4.5%) patients suffered from grade B POPF. One patient (1.0%) experienced a 90-day mortality. Neither the main pancreatic diameter nor pancreatic texture had an impact on postoperative outcomes. Conclusions: Our technique is a simple, safe and efficient alternative to prevent POPF after LPD and RPD. This method is suitable for almost all pancreatic conditions, including cases with a small main pancreatic duct and soft pancreas, and has the potential to become the preferred procedure in low-volume pancreatic surgery centers. Our modified duct-to-mucosa PJ, which contains only two duct-to-mucosa sutures and four penetrating-sutures to anastomose the pancreatic parenchyma and jejunal seromuscular layer, is ideal for small MPD and soft pancreas when performing minimally invasive PD and has a low rate of POPF. PJ pancreaticojejunostomy, MPD main pancreatic diameter, PD pancreaticoduodenectomy, POPF postoperative pancreatic fistula [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to validate and compare the performance of the original fistula risk scores (o-FRS), alternative (a-FRS), and updated alternative FRS (ua-FRS) after open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) and laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy (LPD) in an Asian patient cohort. Methods: Data of 597 consecutive patients who underwent PD (305 OPD, 274 LPD) were collected from two tertiary centers. Model performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC). Results: The overall AUC values of o-FRS, a-FRS, and ua-FRS were 0.67, 0.69, and 0.68, respectively, which were lower than those of the Western validation. Three FRS systems had similar AUC values in the overall and OPD groups, whereas ua-FRS had a higher AUC than o-FRS in the LPD group. The accuracy of ua-FRS (47.2%) was higher than that of o-FRS (39.0%) and a-FRS (19.5%) overall, but low specificity and low positive predictive value were observed regardless of the operative type across the three FRS systems. In the multivariate analysis, pathology, estimated blood loss, and body mass index were not independent risk factors for CR-POPF in the OPD and LPD groups. Conclusions: Current FRS systems have some limitations, including a relatively lower performance in an Asian cohort, low positive predictive values, and inclusion of insignificant risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), with a special focus on remnant pancreatic volume (RPV) as assessed using computed tomography (CT). Methods From February 2004 to June 2017, 101 patients who underwent PD in our institution were enrolled. We defined a CT attenuation value of less than 40 HU as hepatic steatosis and measured RPV at 7 days, 3 months, and 1 year after PD using the SYNAPSE VINCENT system. The incidence of NAFLD and RPV were compared between the two groups according to reconstruction with pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) or pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ). Results The incidence of NAFLD at 3 months after PD was 39.6% (40/101). The RPV ratio (RPV at 3 months or 1 year divided by RPV at 7 days after PD) at both 3 months and 1 year was significantly smaller in the PG group than in the PJ group (59% vs 73%, P

Abstract Background Pancreaticojejunal (PJ) anastomosis occasionally fails several months after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with Child reconstruction and can ultimately result in a late-onset complete pancreaticocutaneous fistula (Lc-PF). Since the remnant pancreas is an isolated segment, surgical intervention is necessary to create internal drainage for the pancreatic juice; however, surgery at the previous PJ anastomosis site is technically challenging even for experienced surgeons. Here we describe a simple surgical procedure for Lc-PF, termed redo PJ anastomosis, which was developed at our facility. Methods Between January 2008 and December 2020, six consecutive patients with Lc-PF after PD underwent a redo PJ anastomosis, and the short- and long-term clinical outcomes have been evaluated. The abdominal cavity is carefully dissected through a 10-cm midline skin incision, and the PJ anastomosis site is identified using a percutaneous drain through the fistula tract as a guide, along with the main pancreatic duct (MPD) stump on the pancreatic stump. Next, the pancreatic stump is deliberately immobilized from the dorsal plane to prevent injury to the underlying major vessels. After fixing a stent tube to both the MPD and the Roux-limb using two-sided purse-string sutures, the redo PJ anastomosis is completed using single-layer interrupted sutures. Full-thickness pancreatic sutures are deliberately avoided by passing the needle through only two-thirds of the anterior side of the pancreatic stump. Results The redo PJ anastomosis was performed without any intraoperative complications in all cases. The median intraoperative bleeding and operative time were 71 (range 10–137) mL and 123 (range 56–175) min, respectively. Even though a new mild pancreatic fistula developed postoperatively in all cases, it could be conservatively treated within 3 weeks, and no other postoperative complications were recorded. During the median follow-up period of 92 (range 12–112) months, no complications at the redo PJ anastomosis site were observed. Conclusions This research shows that the redo PJ anastomosis for Lc-PF we developed is a safe, feasible, and technically no demanding procedure with acceptable short- and long-term clinical outcomes. This procedure has the potential to become the preferred treatment strategy for Lc-PF after PD.

Purpose: Although laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) is increasingly performed in high-volume centers, pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) is still the most challenging procedure. Pancreatic anastomotic leakage remains a major complication after PD. Thus, various technical modifications regarding PJ, such as the Blumgart technique, have been attempted to simplify the procedure and minimize anastomotic leakage. Three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic systems have been shown to be particularly helpful in performing difficult and precise tasks. We present a modified Blumgart anastomosis in 3D-LPD and investigate its clinical outcomes. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 100 patients who underwent 3D-LPD with modified Blumgart PJ from September 2018 to January 2020 was conducted. Data on the preoperative characteristics, operative outcomes, and postoperative characteristics of the patients were collected and analyzed. Results: The mean operative time and duration of PJ were 348.2 and 25.1 min, respectively. The mean estimated blood loss was 112 mL. The overall rate of postoperative complications over Clavien‒Dindo classification III was 18%. The incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula was 11%. The median postoperative hospital stay was 14.2 days. Only one patient required reoperation (1%), and no patient died in the hospital or 90 days after the operation. High BMI, small main pancreatic duct diameter, and soft pancreatic consistency had a significant influence on the occurrence of CR-POPF. Conclusions: The surgical outcome of 3D-LPD with modified Blumgart PJ seems to be comparable to other studies in terms of operation time, blood loss, hospital stay, and complication incidence. We consider the modified Blumgart technique in 3D-LPD to be novel, reliable, safe, and favorable for PJ in the PD procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic anastomotic leakage is the most common major complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The incidence of pancreatic anastomotic leak or fistula has declined to less than 20%, and mortality from this complication has decreased to less than 10% in recent years. The ideal surgical procedures to achieve the most secure pancreaticojejunostomy were compared and reviewed. A single-institution and personal experience was retrogradely compared with two periods between 1988 and 2017, which involved 121 patients who were designed to compare the outcome of complications with or without pancreatic stump by four to six sutures before continuous duct-to-mucosa PD. The surgical reconstruction technique was standardized and unique, and the pancreaticojejunal anastomosis was created using the duct-to-mucosa without (group A, n = 62) and with (group B, n = 59) interrupted stump sutures. The rate of grade A pancreatic fistula was 6.9% in group A and 0% in group B (P < 0.05). Postoperative mortality was 0% in group B. No patient underwent reoperative PD due to pancreatic anastomotic leak. The length of stay during admission and after surgery was significant lower in group B, which was due to less complication after surgery. Interrupted suture of pancreatic stump with a continuous duct-to-mucosa end-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy plus external drainage is the best secure method for pancreaticojejunostomy after PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the outcomes of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) using a modified technique. Our center used priority approach of uncinate process and artery in the pancreatectomy and duct to mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy with a single stitch in the pancreaticojejunostomy. Herein, we retrospectively reviewed 346 cases of LPD using modified techniques. Basic characteristics, preoperative outcomes, factors associated with unfavorable postoperative outcome, and mortality of patients undergoing LPD were collected and analyzed. The average operative time was 259.31 (35–425) min. The mean duration of pancreaticojejunostomy anastomosis was 31.97 (16–90) min. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 101.76 (0–1200) ml by estimation. Postoperative complications included 14 cases (4.1%) of bile leakage, 9 cases (2.6%) of delayed gastric emptying, 26 cases (7.5%) of postoperative bleeding, 34 cases (9.9%) of organ space infection, 17 cases (4.9%) of pulmonary infection, and 50 cases (14.5%) of POPF. Three factors including postoperative bleeding (OR = 3.502; P = 0.033), positive lymph node (OR = 3.296; P < 0.001), and postoperative chemotherapy (OR = 0.241; P = 0.008) were significantly associated with death of LPD. The modified technique for LPD presents safety and reliability. Postoperative bleeding and positive lymph node may be associated with worse overall survival, and postoperative chemotherapy may be associated with better overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) is a challenging procedure. Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) is feasible and safe. Since the development of robotic platforms, the number of reports on robot-assisted pancreatic surgery has increased. We compared the technical feasibility and safety between LPD and robot-assisted LPD (RALPD). Methods: From September 2012 to August 2020, 257 patients who underwent MIPD for periampullary tumors were enrolled. Of these, 207 underwent LPD and 50 underwent RALPD. We performed a 1:1 propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis and retrospectively analyzed the demographics and surgical outcomes. Results: After PSM analysis, no difference was noted in demographics. Operation times and estimated blood loss were similar, as was the incidence of complications (p > 0.05). In subgroup analysis in patients with soft pancreas with pancreatic duct ≤ 2 mm, no significant between-group difference was noted regarding short-term surgical outcomes, including clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) (p > 0.05). In multivariable analysis, the only soft pancreatic texture was a predictive factor (HR 3.887, 95% confidence interval 1.121–13.480, p = 0.032). Conclusion: RALPD and LPD are safe and effective for MIPD and can compensate each other to achieve the goal of minimally invasive surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paediatric chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a relatively rare entity, but it can be accompanied by debilitating complications such as pseudocysts, chronic pain and pancreatic duct obstruction. Surgical drainage procedures, such as pancreaticojejunostomy or cystogastrostomy/jejunostomy to address these complications may be required; however, there is a paucity of evidence as to the efficacy and long-term outcomes of these operations in the paediatric population. A scoping review of contemporary (post-2000) studies detailing surgical pancreatic drainage procedures performed in children (< 18 years) was undertaken. After screening, 24 case series detailing a total of 248 patients met the inclusion criteria. Longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy and cystogastrostomy were the most common surgical procedures performed in children with CP and pseudocysts, respectively. Overall generally favourable outcomes were reported, but all studies were considered to have a high risk of bias. Operative management for paediatric CP is infrequently required; therefore, large prospective studies or trials focusing on this population are infeasible, limiting the best available evidence on the topic to case series, level IV. Recommendations to improve the quality of surgical care in the paediatric CP population could include centralisation and the formation of registries to allow accurate long-term follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study compared early post-surgical complications between two groups of patients with pancreatoduodenal resection for pancreatic head carcinoma: patients with pancreatic-gastric anastomosis with mixed drainage and controls with pancreatic jejunal anastomosis with external drainage. The present study was a cohort study. The patient group was selected prospectively, and the control group – retrospectively. Patients were randomized by sex, age, primary tumor location, pancreatic parenchyma density, clinical symptoms, tumor–node–metastasis (TNM), and grade (G). We used the IBM SPSS Statistics software with the following tests: Fisher's exact test, Pearson's chi-squared test, Mann–Whitney U test. The optimized reconstruction approach with mixed drainage reduced early complications: early mortality - by 2.5%, overall morbidity - by 7.5%; pancreatic-digestive anastomosis insufficiency - by 2.5%; intra-abdominal bleeding - by 2.5%; intra-abdominal infection - by 2.5%; gastroparesis - by 5.0%; wound infection - by 2.5%; biliary leakage -by 2.5%. There were no cases of clinically significant pancreatic fistula. The control group was associated with an average of 9-fold higher relative risk of early complications. The passage was restored between the 4th and 7th day. Patients had a shorter average hospital stay (11 days) compared to controls (22 days). Digestive anastomoses reconstruction on a single loop and mixed intraluminal drainage through a modified nasogastric tube led to a 7-fold reduction in early post-surgical complications and a 2-fold shorter hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aim Pancreaticodigestive tract anastomotic stricture is a long‐term complication of pancreticoduodenectomy (PD). However, optimal treatment has not yet been defined. We conducted longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy (LPJ) in symptomatic patients with anastomotic stricture after PD. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this procedure. Methods Pancreticoduodenectomy was performed in 605 patients at our institution between January 2005 and April 2020. Of these, 15 patients (2.5%) developed symptomatic pancreaticodigestive tract anastomotic stricture after PD. Three patients were referred to our institution owing to recurrent pancreatitis with anastomotic stricture after PD. LPJ was indicated for these 18 patients, and they were enrolled in this study. Results The median time from the initial operation to LPJ was 2.0 y. Preoperative clinical presentations included obstructive pancreatitis in 10 patients, a rapid deterioration of glucose tolerance in nine, and severe steatorrhea in two. Surgical morbidity ≥grade III defined by the Clavien–Dindo classification was not observed. After LPJ, preoperative symptoms improved in 16 patients (89%) during a median follow‐up of 39 mo. Nine of the 10 patients with obstructive pancreatitis achieved complete pain relief. All nine patients with a rapid deterioration of glucose tolerance showed improved endocrine function. Daily insulin requirement was significantly decreased after LPJ (11.6 ± 3.3 vs 3.4 ± 4.3 units, P = .0239). Four of the seven patients who required insulin injections were free of insulin after LPJ. Conclusion LPJ is a safe and effective surgical procedure for symptomatic patients with stricture of the pancreaticodigestive tract anastomosis after PD.

Abstract Background To investigate the feasibility of purse string suture pancreaticojejunostomy in complete laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy for patients with an undilated pancreatic duct. Methods We retrospectively reviewed a database of 113 patients with undilated pancreatic ducts who had undergone laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) with purse string suture pancreaticojejunostomy to analyze the perioperative outcomes. Results One hundred thirteen patients underwent successful LPD. The surgery time was 353 ± 41 min, the time required for pancreaticojejunostomy was 27 ± 5 min, and the hospital stay after surgery was 16 ± 8 days. Fifteen patients suffered postoperative complications, including twelve patients with pancreatic fistula, one with bile leakage, one with gastroparesis (complicated with abdominal infection), and one with abdominal bleeding. No perioperative death occurred. Conclusions Purse string suture pancreaticojejunostomy is safe and feasible for patients with an undilated pancreatic duct.