In situ high-volume modified continuous closed and/or open lavage for infected necrotizing pancreatitis

Continuous drain irrigation as a risk mitigation strategy for postoperative pancreatic fistula: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pancreatic fistula serves as the principle cause for the morbidity and mortality observed after pancreatectomy. Continuous drain irrigation as a treatment strategy for infected pancreatic necrosis has previously been described; however, its role adter pancreatectomy has yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to determine whether continuous drain irrigation reduces postoperative pancreatic fistula.

METHODS

A meta-analysis of the pre-existing literature was performed. The primary end point was whether continuous drain irrigation reduced postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreatectomy. The secondary end point evaluated its impact on postoperative morbidity, mortality, and length of stay.

RESULTS

Nine articles involving 782 patients were included. Continuous drain irrigation use was associated with a statistically significant reduction in postoperative pancreatic fistula rates (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.40 [0.19-0.82], P = .01). Upon subgroup analysis, a significant reduction in clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula was also noted (odds ratio 0.37 [0.20-0.66], P = .0008). A reduction in postoperative complications was also observed-delayed gastric emptying (0.45 [0.24-0.84], P = .01) and the need for re-operation (0.33 [0.11-0.96], P = .04). This reduction in postoperative complications translated into a reduced length of stay (mean difference -2.62 [-4.97 to -0.26], P = .03).

CONCLUSION

Continuous drain irrigation after pancreatectomy is a novel treatment strategy with a limited body of published evidence. After acknowledging the limitations of the data, initial analysis would suggest that it may serve as an effective risk mitigation strategy against postoperative pancreatic fistula. Further research in a prospective context utilizing patient risk stratification for fistula development is, however, required to define its role within clinical practice.

Continuous irrigation after pancreatectomy: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Prevention and management of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreatic resections is still an unresolved issue. Continuous irrigation of the peripancreatic area is frequently used to treat necrotizing pancreatitis, but its use after elective pancreatic surgery is not well-known. With this systematic review, we sought to evaluate the current knowledge and expertise regarding the use of continuous irrigation in the surgical area to prevent or treat POPF after elective pancreatic resections.

METHODS

A systematic search of the literature was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, screening the databases of Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Ovid MEDLINE. Because of the heterogeneity of the included articles, a statistical inference could not be performed and the literature was reviewed only descriptively. The study was pre-registered online (OSF Registry).

RESULTS

Nine studies were included. Three studies provided data regarding the prophylactic use of continuous irrigation after distal and limited pancreatectomies. Here, patients after irrigation showed a lower rate of clinically relevant POPF, related complications, lengths of stay, and mortality. Six other papers reported the use of local lavage to treat clinically relevant POPF and subsequent fluid collections, with successful outcomes.

CONCLUSION

In the current literature, only a few publications are focused on the use of continuous irrigation after pancreatic resection to prevent or manage POPF. The included studies showed promising results, and this technique may be useful in patients at high risk of POPF. Further investigations and randomized trials are needed.

[Overview of relevant clinical recommendations from the new S3 guidelines on acute and chronic pancreatitis]

Acute pancreatitis is a primary sterile inflammation of the pancreas, which is characterized by an unphysiological enzyme activation. This leads to an inflammatory reaction with edema, vascular damage and cell decay. The first German interdisciplinary S3 guidelines on chronic pancreatitis were published in 2012. Under the auspices of the German Society of Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) and with the participation of various societies and patient representatives, the guidelines were recently revised and extended, Comprehensive S3 guidelines on acute and chronic pancreatitis were compiled and agreed by consensus. This article presents the important clinical aspects on acute pancreatitis from these guidelines in a compact form and the recommendations are justified.

Prophylactic active irrigation drainage reduces the risk of post-operative pancreatic fistula-related complications in patients undergoing limited pancreatic resection

Objective:

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic active irrigation drainage in preventing post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and POPF-related complications in patients undergoing limited pancreatic resection (LPR).

Materials and Methods:

Patients who underwent LPR for benign or borderline pancreatic lesions between February 2014 and March 2019 were enroled in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the type of intraperitoneal drainage used: closed-suction drainage (CSD) or continuous active irrigation drainage (CAID). Data regarding the outcomes and complications of surgery were collected and analysed.

Results:

A total of 50 patients (33 women; age, 50.1 ± 10.8 years) were included in this study. Twenty-nine patients were treated with CSD, and 21 patients were treated with CAID. Clinically relevant POPF and POPF-related complications occurred in 11 patients in the CSD group and in two patients in the CAID group (P = 0.024). Patients in the CSD group demonstrated a longer tube indwelling time than those in the CAID group (17.1 ± 10.2 days vs. 13.7 ± 7.5 days; P = 0.044). Mean post-operative hospital stay was also longer in the CSD group than in the CAID group (20.6 ± 7.9 days vs. 16.1 ± 6.3 days; P = 0.039).

Conclusions:

Prophylactic CAID appears to be an effective alternative for the management of POPF and POPF-related complications in patients undergoing LPR.

Enucleation of non-invasive tumors in the proximal pancreas: indications and outcomes compared with standard resections

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficiency of enucleation (EU) for proximal pancreatic non-invasive neoplasms.

METHODS

Patients with solitary non-invasive neoplasms in the proximal pancreas from January 1998 to April 2014 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China were included. Different operations and outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 123 patients were enrolled. Forty patients (32.5%) underwent EU including 18 patients who had tumors close to the main pancreatic duct (MPD). Sixty-one patients (49.6%) had pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) performed and 22 (17.9%) underwent central pancreatectomy (CP). Pathological outcomes included neuroendocrine tumors, cystic lesions, and solid pseudopapillary tumors. Operation time, intra-operative blood loss, and duration of hospital stay were significantly reduced in the EU group. PD was associated with the greatest complication rate (55.7%), followed by EU (50%) and CP (40.9%), though the pancreatic fistula rate after EU was the highest (50%), especially in patients with tumors larger than 3 cm and tumors close to the MPD. EU had advantages in the preservation of pancreatic parenchyma and endocrine and exocrine function.

CONCLUSIONS

EU can be carried out safely and effectively for tumors in the proximal pancreas with improved outcomes compared with standard resections, even if the tumor is larger than 3 cm and close to the MPD.

Continuous irrigation around pancreatic remnant decreases pancreatic fistula-related intraabdominal complications after distal pancreatectomy

PURPOSE

To evaluate whether the technique of irrigation around pancreatic remnant after distal pancreatectomy (DP) can reduce the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF) and its related intraabdominal complications.

METHODS

In the retrospective clinical trial, the technique of irrigation around pancreatic remnant after DP was introduced. The clinical data of 60 patients who underwent the irrigation technique (irrigation group) and the other 65 patients who did not undergo the technique (non-irrigation group) were recorded, respectively. Preoperative clinicopathological features, intraoperative parameters, postoperative morbidity, clinically significant PF, and its related intraabdominal complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The patency of irrigation tubes and drains was maintained in 59 patients. The overall incidence of PF was 31.2 %. There was no significant difference in the rate of PF between the two groups (P = 0.781), but the rate of PF-related intraabdominal complications was significantly lower in the irrigation group than that in the non-irrigation group (5 vs. 18, P = 0.005). The overall incidence of intraabdominal complications was significantly lower in the irrigation group than that in the non-irrigation group (23 vs. 39, P = 0.025).

CONCLUSION

The technique of irrigation around pancreatic remnant after DP is a simple method for prevention of clinically significant PF and its related intraabdominal complications.

Surgical indications in acute pancreatitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review provides an update on the surgical management of acute pancreatitis, with a focus on evidence accumulated over the past year regarding the optimal approach to pancreatic debridement in the critically ill patient.

RECENT FINDINGS

Infected pancreatic necrosis remains the primary indication for surgery in patients with acute pancreatitis. Up to a quarter of patients with acute pancreatitis develop early bacteremia and pneumonia, and assessment of patients for surgery should include a thorough search for nonpancreatic sources of infection. Retroperitoneal, percutaneous and endoscopic approaches to pancreatic debridement can be used with success in appropriately selected critically ill patients. All minimally invasive approaches to necrosectomy are evolving, and there is currently insufficient evidence to advocate one approach over another. Management of patients with acute pancreatitis at high-volume centers appears to be associated with a survival benefit.

SUMMARY

The existing evidence demonstrates that control of infected pancreatic necrosis without laparotomy is possible with appropriate patient selection. Evidence regarding minimally invasive approaches to pancreatic debridement remains of limited quality.

Analysis of pancreatic fistula according to the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula classification scheme for 294 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy in a single center

OBJECTIVES

The purposes of this study were to validate the value of the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) classification scheme for pancreatic fistula (PF) and to identify predictive factors for clinically significant PF.

METHODS

From January 2000 to December 2007, 294 consecutive patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy in a single medical center. Pancreatic fistula was evaluated by the ISGPF criteria and Johns Hopkins Hospital's definition (JHH). Then, logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictive factors for PF development. Our own management strategies with PF were also discussed.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of PF was 19.4% (57/294) according to the ISGPF criteria, and 8.8% (26/294) using the JHH definition. Thirty-one patients with PF classified by the ISGPF were missed by the JHH definition. By logistic regression analysis, we found that besides the lack of cardiovascular disease and malignant diseases, our single-layer continuous circular invaginated pancreaticojejunostomy was another independent factor for the lowered incidence of PF.

CONCLUSIONS

The ISGPF classification scheme was accurate for evaluating PF. Single-layer continuous circular invaginated pancreaticojejunostomy may be a promising method that may have been responsible for the lower incidence of PF in this study.

Conservative resection for benign tumors of the proximal pancreas

AIM: To evaluate the safety and long-term prognosis of conservative resection (CR) for benign or borderline tumor of the proximal pancreas.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 20 patients who underwent CR at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine between April 2000 and October 2008. For pancreaticojejunostomy, a modified invagination method, continuous circular invaginated pancreaticojejunostomy (CCI-PJ) was used. Modified continuous closed lavage (MCCL) was performed for patients with pancreatic fistula.

RESULTS: The indications were: serous cystadenomas in eight patients, insulinomas in six, non-functional islet cell tumors in three and solid pseudopapillary tumors in three. Perioperative mortality was zero and morbidity was 25%. Overall, pancreatic fistula was present in 25% of patients. At a mean follow up of 42.7 mo, all patients were alive with no recurrence and no new-onset diabetes mellitus or exocrine dysfunction.

CONCLUSION: CR is a safe and effective procedure for patients with benign tumors in the proximal pancreas, with careful CCI-PJ and postoperative MCCL.

Microbiological findings in secondary infection of severe acute pancreatitis: a retrospective clinical study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to evaluate the bacteriologic findings in secondary infection of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and the potential correlation with infection.

METHODS

Three hundred thirty-six patients with acute pancreatitis admitted to our department between January 1, 2000, and April 30, 2008, were recruited. All patients were treated with Chinese standard treatment. Of these 336 patients, 65 with infected necrosis were studied according to the clinical data.

RESULTS

Sixty-five (19.35%) of 336 patients had SAP with secondary infection; the time for secondary infection was diagnosed after a mean of 14 to 20 days. One hundred thirty-three strains were found in 65 patients with SAP with infection; culture-revealed organism infection included 85 gram-negative germs, 44 gram-positive germs, and 4 fungi. In the group without infection, 271 patients were managed conservatively, of which 16 patients (5.90%) died; in the other group, 61 (93.85%) of 65 patients were treated by operation and 15 patients (23.08%) died.

CONCLUSIONS

The predominant infections were gram-negative bacterium, gram-positive bacterium, and fungi concomitantly or consecutively. Most of the infected patients had polyinfection. There were many patients with hospital-acquired infection and opportunistic infection. Multiple factors affected the outcome.