A retrospective comparative study of reconstructive methods following pancreaticoduodenectomy--pancreaticojejunostomy vs. pancreaticogastrostomy.

Reconstructive methods following pancreaticoduodenectomy in our department are discussed and evaluated in this study. Between January 1980 and November 1990 fifty-two consecutive patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy because of pancreas head disease. Thirty-one patients underwent pancreaticojejunostomy and twenty-one had pancreaticogastrostomy as reconstructive procedures. Mortality rate was 6% in pancreaticojejunstomy versus zero in pancreaticogastrostomy. Six patients had leakage from the pancreaticojejunostomy, but only one patient had necrosis of the gastric stump and leakage from the pancreaticogastrostomy. This case had previous distal gastrectomy done for gastric ulcer. The residual stomach might not have been large enough, and the blood supply of the gastric stump might not have been adequate for pancreaticogastrostomy. Except for this case, none was observed with leakage from the pancreatic anastomosis in the pancreaticogastrostomy group. No statistical significance in operating time or blood loss was observed between the two methods. The pancreaticogastrostomy cases without complications had significantly less loss of body weight than those with pancreaticojejunostomy at the date of discharge (p < 0.05). It is concluded that pancreaticogastrostomy is the safer reconstructive method following pancreaticoduodenectomy, although it may not be indicated in patients with prior gastrectomy.