Prevent Pancreatic Fistula after Pancreatoduodenectomy: Possible Role of Ultrasound Elastography.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the utility of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) on pancreatic tissue as a preoperative predictor of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). Studied patients underwent exclusively to pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) surgery.

METHODS

Shear wave velocity of pancreas was measured using ARFI in 71 patients scheduled for PD. An intraoperative pancreas palpation was made by surgeons. A postoperative clinical evaluation to detect occurrence of POPF was performed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values together with the accuracy of the method were investigated.

RESULTS

Incidence of fistula observed in 17 patients with soft pancreas was approximately 53% vs. 47% without fistula. Percentage of patients without fistula was higher (66%) among 24 patients with medium parenchymal texture values, and was even higher (69%) in 26 patients with hard pancreas. Comparing ARFI and intraoperative pancreatic palpation, low wave velocity values (≤1.40 m/s) match 60% with soft parenchyma assessed by palpation and high values (>2 m/s) match 59% with hard pancreas on palpation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that ARFI elastography may be clinically useful as a preoperative predictor of pancreatic fistula following PD.