One-layer Versus Two-layer Duct-to-mucosa Pancreaticojejunostomy After Pancreaticoduodenectomy .

Overview

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is one of the most frequent and ominous complications after PD, and its occurrence reportedly ranges from 2-40 %. Severe POPF prolongs hospital stay and requires the use of specific treatments, such as the use of antibiotics, nutritional support, endoscopy, interventional radiology, and/or reoperation, etc.. Several anastomotic surgical techniques have been developed to reduce the incidence of pancreatic fistula in recent decades, including the duct-to-mucosa method, pancreaticogastrostomy, Peng's binding method, and the "end-to-end" or "end-to-side" invaginated method. Among these techniques, the conventional duct-to-mucosa method remains the most popular anastomosis due to its advantages. The size of the pancreatic remnant is not limited; moreover, the jejunal lumen and pancreatic remnant lead to easier anastomosis . Compared with two-layer duct-to-mucosa anastomosis, the novel one-layer duct-to-mucosa PJ anastomosis method has been reported to be efficient at reducing POPF occurrence. However, the two cited retrospective studies might lead to selection bias. Because this evidence is insufficient, we will conduct a randomized controlled trial to verify the superiority of one-layer duct-to-mucosa PJ anastomosis after PD over the two-layer technique.

To date, pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has been regarded as the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic head and periampullary tumors, including tumors in the ampullary region, distal biliary duct, and periampullary duodenum . A retrospective study in which 1000 cases were recruited over the past three decades showed that PD has become an effective treatment to reduce hospital mortality. Mortality has been reduced to less than 5 %, but the morbidity remains at 30-50 % . Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is one of the most frequent and ominous complications after PD, and its occurrence reportedly ranges from 2-40 %. Severe POPF prolongs hospital stay and requires the use of specific treatments, such as the use of antibiotics, nutritional support, endoscopy, interventional radiology, and/or reoperation, etc. POPF risk is increased by many factors including pancreatic texture, main pancreatic duct diameter, and pancreaticojejunal (PJ) anastomotic technique .Among these factors, only anastomotic technique can be improved. According to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) definition, POPF exists if the drainage of any measurable volume of fluid containing amylase exceeds three times the normal serum value on or after postoperative day (POD) 3. Several anastomotic surgical techniques have been developed to reduce the incidence of pancreatic fistula in recent decades, including the duct-to-mucosa method, pancreaticogastrostomy, Peng's binding method, and the "end-to-end" or "end-to-side" invaginated method. Among these techniques, the conventional duct-to-mucosa method remains the most popular anastomosis due to its advantages. The size of the pancreatic remnant is not limited; moreover, the jejunal lumen and pancreatic remnant lead to easier anastomosis .Compared with two-layer duct-to-mucosa anastomosis, the novel one-layer duct-to-mucosa PJ anastomosis method has been reported to be efficient at reducing POPF occurrence . However, the two cited retrospective studies might lead to selection bias. Because this evidence is insufficient, we will conduct a randomized controlled trial to verify the superiority of one-layer duct-to-mucosa PJ anastomosis after PD over the two-layer technique.