Delayed Gastric Emptying and Gastric Remnant Function After Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Systematic Review of Objective Assessment Modalities

Intraoperative Endoluminal Pyloromyotomy Versus Stretching of the Pylorus for the Reduction of Delayed Gastric Emptying After Pylorus-Preserving Partial Pancreatoduodenectomy: A Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial (PORRIDGE Study; DRKS00013503)

BACKGROUND

Pylorus-preserving partial pancreatoduodenectomy (ppPD) is a treatment for tumors of the pancreatic head. Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is one of the most common complications following ppPD. In a retrospective analysis, intraoperative endoluminal pyloromyotomy (PM) was shown to be associated with a reduction in DGE rates.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effect of intraoperative endoluminal PM on DGE after ppPD.

METHODS

Patients undergoing ppPD were randomized intraoperatively to receive either PM or atraumatic stretching of the pylorus prior to creation of the duodenojejunostomy. The primary endpoint was the rate of DGE within 30 days after surgery.

RESULTS

Sixty-four patients were randomly assigned to the PM group and 64 patients were assigned to the control group. There were no differences between the two groups regarding baseline characteristics. The DGE rate was 59.4% (76/126). In two patients (1.6%) DGE was not assessable. The most common DGE grade was A (51/126, 40.5%), followed by B (20/126, 15.9%) and C (5/126, 4.0%). The rate of DGE was 62.5% in the PM group versus 56.3% in the control group (odds ratio 1.41, 95% confidence interval 0.69-2.90; p = 0.34). The complication rate did not differ between both groups (p = 0.79) and there were no differences in quality of life on postoperative day 30.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative endoluminal PM did not reduce the rate or severity of DGE after ppPD compared with atraumatic stretching of the pylorus.

Splenic vein resection is not a risk factor for delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy with combined resection of the portal or superior mesenteric vein

PURPOSE

This study clarified the influence of the splenic vein (SV) on delayed gastric emptying (DGE) in patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) combined with portal vein (PV) and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) resections.

METHODS

A total of 147 patients who underwent open subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (SSPPD) with PV/SMV resection were included in this study and classified into two groups: SV resection (n = 101) and preservation (n = 46). The incidence of DGE was compared between groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the risk factors for DGE.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the incidence of Grade B or C DGE between the SV resection and preservation groups (19.8 vs. 19.6%, respectively; p = 0.973). Multivariate analysis revealed that intra-abdominal abscess (odds ratio, 3.355; 95% confidence interval, 1.324-8.500; p = 0.011) was the only independent risk factor for DGE.

CONCLUSION

SV resection did not affect the incidence of DGE after SSPPD with PV/SMV resection. There may be no need to insist on preserving the veins associated with gastric venous flow out of concern for DGE.

Assessing gastrointestinal system dysfunction in intensive care

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize the current knowledge on the assessment of gastrointestinal dysfunction.

RECENT FINDINGS

Clinical assessment is becoming more structured but remains largely subjective. Some instrumental tools to assess gastrointestinal motility have been developed but not yet widely applied in clinical practice. Imaging techniques offer a good method for static (i.e. nonfunctional) diagnostics but a standardized dynamic assessment at the bedside is currently unavailable. Recent studies on biomarkers have not provided convincing results for accurate evaluation of gastrointestinal function.

SUMMARY

Clinical assessment remains the main tool for assessing gastrointestinal dysfunction. A single sign or symptom does not reflect gastrointestinal dysfunction adequately, and a set of variables might be needed. Studies on tools reflecting gastrointestinal motility and biomarkers for response to enteral nutrients, including absorption, are warranted.

Perioperative nutritional practices and associations with delayed gastric emptying in patients undergoing a pancreaticoduodenectomy: A retrospective observational study

AIMS

Delayed gastric emptying is a common complication of a pancreaticoduodenectomy and can adversely impact nutritional status, and potentially clinical outcomes due to delays in nutrition initiation post-operatively. The aim of this study was to explore associations between delayed gastric emptying and patient baseline characteristics, early post-operative nutritional status, post-operative nutritional practices and clinical outcomes in a tertiary Australian hospital.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, observational study of 80 consecutive patients who underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy between January 2019 and June 2022. Delayed gastric emptying was classified according to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery definition. Continuous variables were compared using the independent t test, and categorical variables were compared using chi-squared or Fisher's exact test. Significant variables were included in a multivariable model.

RESULTS

The incidence of delayed gastric emptying within this cohort was 45% (36/80) and was higher in males compared to females (p = 0.025). Early post-operative nutritional status was not significantly associated with delayed gastric emptying (p = 0.124). Patients with delayed gastric emptying had a higher incidence of post-operative pancreatic fistula (p = 0.03) and Clavien-Dindo complications ≥3 (p = 0.011). Delayed gastric emptying was associated with greater usage of enteral (p < 0.001) and parenteral nutrition (p < 0.001), a longer length of stay (p < 0.001) and increased re-admissions (p = 0.014). Male sex remained significantly associated with delayed gastric emptying following regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Delayed gastric emptying rates were high, associated with greater use of artificial nutrition and worse outcomes in our patient population post-operatively. Early post-operative malnutrition was not significantly associated with delayed gastric emptying.

The value of preoperative RDW for post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage and surgical prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant tumor, and only some patients can receive surgical treatment. Complex surgical procedures combined with various postoperative complications seriously affect the prognosis of patients. It is very important to use appropriate biomarkers to prevent and predict the occurrence of complications. On the basis of our previous attention to red blood cell distribution width (RDW), this study aimed to investigate the correlation between RDW and the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.

METHODS

Patients who underwent elective radical resection of pancreatic tumors from January 2017 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Relevant clinical data were collected to evaluate the correlation between preoperative absolute RDW changes and post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 2268 patients were analyzed. We found that the preoperative RDW, preoperative LMR, anesthesia method, operation method, preoperative jaundice, operation with NSAIDs, and intravenous administration in patients with PDAC were significantly correlated with the infusion of albumin and R colloidal/crystal and post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage (PPH). In addition, sensitivity analysis revealed that preoperative RDW was associated with 30-day survival (P = 0.026), whereas PPH had a significant effect on in-hospital outcomes (P = 0.002), 30-day outcomes (P < 0.001) and 90-day outcomes (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The preoperative RDW may be a useful marker for predicting and evaluating PPH and short-term prognosis in patients with PDAC.

[Factors of delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy]

OBJECTIVE

To study the factors of delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy using artificial intelligence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS. THE

Study included 142 patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy for malignant pancreaticoduodenal tumors. The probability of delayed gastric emptying was determined using neural network analysis (SPSS Statistics v.26). Quality of the model was assessed considering sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic efficacy and AUROC.

RESULTS

Delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy occurred in 33 (23.2%) patients. In multivariate analysis, delayed gastric emptying was associated with BMI > 30 kg/m2, tumor diameter ≤2 cm and postoperative pancreatitis. Model sensitivity was 93.9%, specificity 97.2%, diagnostic efficacy 96.5%, AUROC 0.924±0.011 (95% CI: 0.834-0.967).

CONCLUSION. A

Rtificial intelligence makes it possible to determine the factors of delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting clinically relevant delayed gastric emptying in patients undergoing total pancreatectomy

BACKGROUND

Current research on delayed gastric emptying (DGE) after pancreatic surgery is predominantly focused on pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), with little exploration into DGE following total pancreatectomy (TP). This study aims to investigate the risk factors for DGE after TP and develop a predictive model.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 106 consecutive cases of TP performed between January 2013 and December 2023 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). After applying the inclusion criteria, 96 cases were selected for analysis. These patients were randomly divided into a training set (n = 67) and a validation set (n = 29) in a 7:3 ratio. LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with clinically relevant DGE (grades B/C) and to construct a predictive nomogram. The ROC curve, calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curve (CIC) were employed to evaluate the model's prediction accuracy.

RESULTS

The predictive model identified end-to-side gastrointestinal anastomosis, intraoperative blood transfusion, and venous reconstruction as risk factors for clinically relevant DGE after TP. The ROC was 0.853 (95%CI 0.681-0.900) in the training set and 0.789 (95%CI 0.727-0.857) in the validation set. The calibration curve, DCA, and CIC confirmed the accuracy and practicality of the nomogram.

CONCLUSION

We developed a novel predictive model that accurately identifies potential risk factors associated with clinically relevant DGE in patients undergoing TP.

Hand-sewn gastrojejunal anastomosis reduces delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A single-center retrospective clinical study of 1,077 consecutive patients

BACKGROUND

Hand-sewn anastomosis and stapled anastomosis are the 2 main types of gastrojejunal anastomotic methods in pancreaticoduodenectomy. There is ongoing debate regarding the most effective anastomotic method for reducing delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy. This study aims to identify factors that influence delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy and assess the impact of different anastomotic methods on delayed gastric emptying.

METHODS

The study included 1,077 patients who had undergone either hand-sewn anastomosis (n = 734) or stapled anastomosis (n = 343) during pancreaticoduodenectomy between December 2016 and November 2021 at our department. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, and a 1:1 propensity score matching was performed to balance confounding variables.

RESULTS

After propensity score matching, 320 patients were included in each group. Compared with the stapled anastomosis group, the hand-sewn anastomosis group had a significantly lower incidence of delayed gastric emptying (28 [8.8%] vs 55 [17.2%], P = .001) and upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding (6 [1.9%] vs 17 [5.3%], P = .02). Additionally, the hand-sewn anastomosis group had a significantly reduced postoperative length of stay and lower hospitalization expenses. However, the hand-sewn anastomosis group had a significantly longer operative time, which was consistent with the analysis before propensity score matching. Logistic regression analysis showed that stapled anastomosis, intra-abdominal infection, and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula were independent prognostic factors for delayed gastric emptying.

CONCLUSION

Hand-sewn anastomosis was associated with a lower incidence rate of clinically relevant delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Stapled anastomosis, intra-abdominal infection, and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula could increase the incidence of postoperative clinically relevant delayed gastric emptying. Hand-sewn anastomosis should be considered by surgeons to reduce the occurrence of postoperative delayed gastric emptying and improve patient outcomes.

Preoperative and postoperative complications as risk factors for delayed gastric emptying following pancreaticoduodenectomy: A single-center retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Mortality rates after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) have significantly decreased in specialized centers. However, postoperative morbidity, particularly delayed gastric emptying (DGE), remains the most frequent complication following PD.

AIM

To identify risk factors associated with DGE after the PD procedure.

METHODS

In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, clinical data were collected from 114 patients who underwent PD between January 2015 and June 2018. Demographic factors, pre- and perioperative characteristics, and surgical complications were assessed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for post-PD DGE.

RESULTS

The study included 66 males (57.9%) and 48 females (42.1%), aged 33-83 years (mean: 62.5), with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 1.4:1. There were 63 cases (55.3%) of PD and 51 cases (44.7%) of pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy. Among the 114 patients who underwent PD, 33 (28.9%) developed postoperative DGE. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in four of the 14 clinical indexes observed: pylorus preservation, retrocolonic anastomosis, postoperative abdominal complications, and early postoperative albumin (ALB). Logistic regression analysis further identified postoperative abdominal complications [odds ratio (OR) = 4.768, P = 0.002], preoperative systemic diseases (OR = 2.516, P = 0.049), and early postoperative ALB (OR = 1.195, P = 0.003) as significant risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative severe abdominal complications, preoperative systemic diseases, and early postoperative ALB are identified as risk factors for post-PD DGE.

Prevention of delayed gastric emptying after right colectomy with extended lymphadenectomy: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Delayed gastric emptying sometimes occurs after right colectomy with extended lymphadenectomy. The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effect on delayed gastric emptying after performing a fixation of the stomach to the retrogastric tissue to return the stomach to a physiological position after right colectomy with lymphadenectomy, including gastrocolic lymph nodes dissection for proximal transverse colon cancer.

METHODS

From January 2015 to December 2020, patients undergoing right colectomy with extensive lymphadenectomy for proximal transverse colon cancer were randomly assigned to either the gastropexy group or the conventional group. In the gastropexy group, the posterior wall of the stomach, at the level of the antrum, was sutured to the retrogastric tissue to prevent the abnormal shape that the gastric antrum acquires together with the duodeno-pancreatic complex, the shape that leads to an obstruction of the antrum region and to the delay in emptying the gastric contents.

RESULTS

Mean age, sex, comorbidities, and right colectomy procedures were similar in the 2 groups. Delayed gastric emptying developed in twelve patients in the conventional group (38.7%) versus 4 patients (12.1%) in the gastropexy group (P = .014). The total number of complications was higher in the conventional group (14 complications) than in the gastropexy group (7 complications). According to univariate analysis, gastropexy significantly lowered the risk of delayed gastric emptying (P = .014). Overall morbidity was 9.7% in the conventional group versus none in the gastropexy group. Postoperative hospitalization was longer in the conventional group (7.61 ± 3.26 days) than in the gastropexy group (6.24 ± 1.3 days; P = .006).

CONCLUSION

Gastropexy decreases the occurrence of delayed gastric emptying after right colectomy with extended lymphadenectomy for proximal transverse colon cancer.