Pharmacological prevention of post-operative pancreatitis: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on animal studies

Non-Surgical Interventions for the Prevention of Clinically Relevant Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula-A Narrative Review

Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality after pancreatic surgery. Post-pancreatectomy acute pancreatitis (PPAP) has been increasingly understood as a precursor and exacerbator of CR-POPF. No longer believed to be the consequence of surgical technique, the solution to preventing CR-POPF may lie instead in non-surgical, mainly pharmacological interventions. Five databases were searched, identifying eight pharmacological preventative strategies, including neoadjuvant therapy, somatostatin and its analogues, antibiotics, analgesia, corticosteroids, protease inhibitors, miscellaneous interventions with few reports, and combination strategies. Two further non-surgical interventions studied were nutrition and fluids. New potential interventions were also identified from related surgical and experimental contexts. Given the varied efficacy reported for these interventions, numerous opportunities for clarifying this heterogeneity remain. By reducing CR-POPF, patients may avoid morbid sequelae, experience shorter hospital stays, and ensure timely delivery of adjuvant therapy, overall aiding survival where prognosis, particularly in pancreatic cancer patients, is poor.

Perioperative Drug Treatment in Pancreatic Surgery-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic resections for malignant or benign diseases are associated with major morbidity and changes in physiology. To reduce perioperative complications and enhance recovery, many types of perioperative medical management have been introduced. The aim of this study was to provide an evidence-based overview on the best perioperative drug treatment.

METHODS

The electronic bibliographic databases Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluating perioperative drug treatments in pancreatic surgery. The investigated drugs were somatostatin analogues, steroids, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), prokinetic therapy, antidiabetic drugs, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI). Targeted outcomes in each drug category were meta-analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 49 RCT were included. The analysis of somatostatin analogues showed a significantly lower incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) in the somatostatin group compared to the control group (OR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.74). The comparison of glucocorticoids versus placebo showed significantly less POPF in the glucocorticoid group (OR 0.22, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.77). There was no significant difference in DGE when erythromycin was compared to placebo (OR 0.33, 95% CI: 0.08 to 1.30). The other investigated drug regimens could only be analyzed qualitatively.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview on perioperative drug treatment in pancreatic surgery. Some often-prescribed perioperative drug treatments lack high quality evidence and further research is needed.