Pancreatic leak after left pancreatectomy is reduced following main pancreatic duct ligation

Absorbable mesh reinforcement of a stapled pancreatic transection line reduces the leak rate with distal pancreatectomy

Pancreatic leak remains a significant cause of morbidity after distal pancreatectomy. We report the use of an absorbable mesh to reinforce a stapled pancreatic transection line for distal pancreatectomy. Forty consecutive distal pancreatectomies (33 open and 7 laparoscopic) were performed since the introduction of mesh reinforcement. We utilized an inclusive definition of pancreatic leak to critically evaluate the staple line reinforcement material. In addition, we compared the pancreatic leak rate for this case series with the antecedent 40 cases where mesh reinforcement was not available. In the prospective series there was 1 leak in 29 cases (3.5%) in which mesh reinforcement was utilized, and 4 leaks in 11 cases (36%) when mesh was not utilized (p < 0.005). The 12.5% leak rate for the 40 cases during the prospective period, compared favorably to the 27.5% leak rate for the 40 cases preceding the study period (p = 0.09). Twenty-nine cases receiving mesh compared favorably to the 23 stapled cases in the control series, reducing leak rate from 22 to 3.5% (p = 0.04). Mesh reinforcement of the stapled pancreatic transection line reduced the pancreatic leak rate after distal pancreatectomy. Mesh reinforcement was possible with open or laparoscopic resections. No complications were attributable to the use of absorbable mesh.

Analysis of closure of the pancreatic remnant after distal pancreatic resection

BACKGROUND

The appropriate management of the pancreatic remnant following distal pancreatic resection remains a clinically relevant problem. We carried out a retrospective analysis which focused on this issue and compared the two favored techniques of suture and staple closure.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-six patients underwent distal pancreatectomy between October 1999 and January 2006. The patients were retrospectively analysed based on the management of the remaining pancreatic gland. Thirty-seven patients had suture and nine patients had staple closure. The morbidity, mortality, incidence of pancreatic fistula, necessity of secondary surgical intervention, and the duration of hospital stay for the two groups were compared. Pancreatic fistula was considered according to the novel international standard definition (ISGPF). In addition, subgroup analysis of patients receiving octreotide was carried out.

RESULTS

Overall, postoperative morbidity due to pancreatic fistula occurred in seven patients (19%) after suture and in one patient (11%) after staple closure (p = 0.54), with no deaths. The number of patients with surgical revision related to pancreatic leakage was two (5%) after suture closure vs no revision after staple closure (p = 0.65). The median number of total hospital days for the suture group was 19 (range 7-78 days) vs 21 (range 12-96 days) for the stapler group (p = 0.21). No significant benefit for the octreotide application could be determined.

CONCLUSION

According to the data, no significant difference for either suture or stapler closure was observed, with the tendency for staple closure to be superior.

Intraoperative pancreatography and gastric-wall-covering method for the prevention of pancreatic leakage after enucleation of insulinoma in the pancreas

Pancreatic leakage is one of the most common complications following pancreatic surgery. Although several surgical techniques and several devices for the management of pancreatic ducts have been advocated to prevent pancreatic leakage, its incidence is still not acceptable. We report our new surgical technique, a gastric-wall-covering method, for the prevention of pancreatic leakage in the enucleation of insulinoma in the pancreas, along with intraoperative pancreatography for navigation surgery of the pancreatic duct. Our novel techniques help to prevent pancreatic leakage following pancreatic surgery, including partial resection of the pancreas.

Implications and cost of pancreatic leak following distal pancreatic resection

OBJECTIVES

Pancreatic stump leak (PL) after elective distal pancreatic resection significantly impacts cost and increases subsequent health care resource utilization. We sought to provide an economic framework for potential interventions aimed at reducing its occurrence.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series and economic evaluation.

SETTING

University-affiliated, tertiary care referral center.

PATIENTS

Sixty-six patients undergoing elective distal pancreatectomy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Postoperative complications; hospital and professional costs.

RESULTS

Overall postoperative morbidity occurred in 34 patients (52%) with no deaths. The total number of patients with complications directly related to PL was 22 (33%). The mean +/- SD number of total hospital days for the no-PL group was 5.2 +/- 1.7 days (range, 3-12 days) vs 16.6 +/- 14.6 days (range, 4-49 days) for the PL group (P = .001). The average patient with PL-related problems incurred a total cost that was 2.01 times greater than the average patient in the no-PL group. A decision analytic model developed to evaluate threshold costs showed that a hypothetical intervention designed to reduce the complication rate of distal pancreatectomy by one third would be financially justifiable up to a cost of $1418 per patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Complications derived from PL following distal pancreatectomy double the cost and dramatically increase health care resource utilization. There is an urgent need to develop strategies that reduce the incidence of this common complication. Interventions aimed at decreasing the incidence of PL should take into account this cost differential. We provide an economic model to serve as a guide for developing these technologies.

Implications and cost of pancreatic leak following distal pancreatic resection

OBJECTIVES

Pancreatic stump leak (PL) after elective distal pancreatic resection significantly impacts cost and increases subsequent health care resource utilization. We sought to provide an economic framework for potential interventions aimed at reducing its occurrence.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series and economic evaluation.

SETTING

University-affiliated, tertiary care referral center.

PATIENTS

Sixty-six patients undergoing elective distal pancreatectomy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Postoperative complications; hospital and professional costs.

RESULTS

Overall postoperative morbidity occurred in 34 patients (52%) with no deaths. The total number of patients with complications directly related to PL was 22 (33%). The mean +/- SD number of total hospital days for the no-PL group was 5.2 +/- 1.7 days (range, 3-12 days) vs 16.6 +/- 14.6 days (range, 4-49 days) for the PL group (P = .001). The average patient with PL-related problems incurred a total cost that was 2.01 times greater than the average patient in the no-PL group. A decision analytic model developed to evaluate threshold costs showed that a hypothetical intervention designed to reduce the complication rate of distal pancreatectomy by one third would be financially justifiable up to a cost of $1418 per patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Complications derived from PL following distal pancreatectomy double the cost and dramatically increase health care resource utilization. There is an urgent need to develop strategies that reduce the incidence of this common complication. Interventions aimed at decreasing the incidence of PL should take into account this cost differential. We provide an economic model to serve as a guide for developing these technologies.

Minimally invasive pancreatic surgery: the new frontier?

Recent advances in minimally invasive pancreatic surgery encompass laparoscopic, retroperitoneoscopic, endoscopic, thoracoscopic, and percutaneous approaches. Applications of endoscopic pancreatic surgery include laparoscopic resection, necrosectomy, drainage of pseudocysts, gastric and biliary bypass, and thoracoscopic splanchnotomy. This review provides an update on laparoscopic pancreatic resections. Over 400 cases of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) and enucleation (LEn) have been reported in the English literature, largely for benign disease. LDP and LEn have been associated with reductions in blood loss, morbidity, and hospital stay and a greater rate of splenic preservation compared with open surgery. Laparoscopic ultrasound is essential for intraoperative localization of insulinomas because failure of localization is the most common cause for conversion to laparotomy. The role of LDP with en bloc splenectomy and laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) for malignancy remains controversial. The majority of LPDs have been performed for malignancy. The short-term results of the limited world experience of 34 reported LPDs appear favorable.

Preoperative endoscopic pancreatic stenting for prophylaxis of pancreatic fistula development after distal pancreatectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Pancreatic fistula is a common complication of distal pancreatectomy (DP). Although various surgical procedures have been proposed for DP in an attempt to decrease the high incidence of pancreatic fistula, the prevention of pancreatic fistula remains a major problem in DP. Endoscopic pancreatic stenting for the treatment or prophylaxis of such a fistula has been rarely described.

METHODS

We reviewed 9 patients who underwent preoperative endoscopic pancreatic stenting for the prophylaxis of pancreatic fistula development after DP.

RESULTS

Preoperative endoscopic pancreatic stenting was successfully performed with a 7F stent in all the 9 patients. Two patients, both with intraductal papillary mucinous tumor, developed mild acute pancreatitis after the stent placement. None of the 9 patients developed pancreatic fistula. The pancreatic stent was removed from 8 to 28 days (mean 11 days) postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative endoscopic pancreatic stenting may be an effective prophylactic measure against pancreatic fistula development following DP in selected patients.

Distal pancreatic resection: technical differences between open and laparoscopic approaches

Open distal pancreatic resection has been performed over the years for management of patients with a variety of pancreatic disorders. However, the technique is usually not performed in the same way by all surgeons. In recent years, the laparoscopic approach has been introduced with all the advantages of a minimally invasive procedure. The primary differences between the open and laparoscopic approaches are the method of access, the method of exposure, and the extent of operative trauma. The clinical advantages of the laparoscopic approach are the reduced length hospitalization, the reduction in postoperative pain, absence of wound-related complications and faster recovery.

The unsolved problem of fistula after left pancreatectomy: the benefit of cautious drain management

The aim of the study was to identify factors related to the onset of pancreatic fistula and to define the characteristics of the fistula. The study group was composed of 123 patients who underwent left pancreatectomy since 1996. Pancreatic closure was accomplished by a hand-sewn technique (39 patients) or two kinds of mechanical staplers: Proximate (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH) (46 patients) and Endo-GIA (United States Surgical, Norwalk, CT) (38 patients). Fistula was defined as output greater than 5 ml, with amylase x 5, after day 5. In case of fistula, the drain removal was scheduled at a daily output less than 5 ml. Mortality was 0%, morbidity was 48%, and pancreatic fistula rate was 34%. Fistula rate was 38% after hand-sewn closure, 26% after Proximate, and 39% after Endo-GIA (NS). None of the other factors (separate duct ligation, hand-sewn suture in addition to stapler, spleen preservation, use of pledgetted suture, sex, age, and indication for pancreatectomy) proved to be related to a reduction in the onset of fistula. All fistulas healed spontaneously. Mean fistula duration was 36 days; 92.8% of patients with fistula were discharged with drain. The policy of delayed drain removal allowed a low rate of fistula associated morbidity (16%) and of readmission (4.7%). In conclusion, fistula is an unsolved problem of left pancreatectomy. However, a careful drain management allows a good outcome in patients with fistula.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of technique for closure of the pancreatic remnant after distal pancreatectomy

BACKGROUND

Appropriate closure of the pancreatic remnant after distal pancreatectomy is still debated. A variety of procedures have been recommended to reduce the frequency of pancreatic fistula. This review quantitatively compares the available techniques.

METHODS

Original articles and abstracts published up to the end of June 2004 were searched without language restriction in the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Medline and Embase. Three reviewers independently assessed each study's eligibility and quality, and extracted the data. A random effects model was performed using weighted odds ratios.

RESULTS

Only ten of 262 articles could be included, two randomized clinical trials and eight observational studies. Reported postoperative morbidity varied from 13.3 to 64 per cent. The primary outcome measure, pancreatic fistula rate, occurred within the range 0-60.9 per cent. Meta-analysis of the six studies comparing stapler versus hand-sutured closure showed a non-significant combined odds ratio for occurrence of a pancreatic fistula of 0.66 (95 per cent confidence interval 0.35 to 1.26, P = 0.21) in favour of stapler closure.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality and quantity of information extracted from the available trials are insufficient to enable any firm conclusion to be drawn on the optimal surgical technique of pancreatic stump closure; there is a trend in favour of the stapling technique.

Retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy with concomitant distal pancreatectomy: case report

Whereas laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has emerged as the standard of care for most low-stage renal tumors, laparoscopic pancreatic surgery remains uncommon. We describe a retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy and concomitant distal pancreatectomy for a large left renal mass with suspected involvement of the adrenal gland and the distal pancreas.

Safe closure technique for distal pancreatic resection

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Various methods had previously been employed to manage the proximal pancreas after distal resection (mattress sutures with duct ligation; pancreato-enterostomy or stapling with stainless steel staples, etc.), with postoperative complications in 13% (6%-30%) of the cases, on average. In our practice, to reduce these complications, we applied staples made from Polysorb (Auto Suture), an absorbable lactomer.

PATIENTS/METHODS

In the past 10 years, distal pancreatic resection in 90 patients [62 men, 28 women, mean age 52 (24-72)] years) was followed by closure of the resection surfaces with absorbable lactomer clips. Indications for distal resection (with or without splenectomy) were: focal pancreatic necrosis, spontaneous pancreatic fistulas, abscess, pseudocyst, traumatic disruption, segmental chronic obstructive pancreatitis in the tail, and benign (cystadenoma, or insulinoma) or malignant tumours.

RESULTS

The postoperative period was uneventful in all these patients, without any complications (pancreatic fistula, abscess or bleeding). No morbidity or mortality occurred in the follow-up period (6 or 12 months postoperatively) with the exception of one patient who suffered a pseudocyst 6 months after surgery and was treated by cysto-jejunostomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical results clearly demonstrated that the application of absorbable lactomer staples for closure of the transected margin of the pancreas is a safe alternative to the standard closure technique. These staples can be applied in all cases when distal pancreatic resection is indicated for benign or malignant disorders or a traumatically injured pancreatic gland.