Pancreatic fistula complicating pancreatectomy for malignant disease.

The incidence of pancreatic fistula in a series of 178 pancreatic resections was 25 per cent and was influenced by the type of pancreatectomy, the management of the remaining pancreas and the size of the pancreatic duct. Thus, fistulas appeared in 52 per cent of patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy as compared to only 7 per cent of those undergoing distal pancreatectomy (P less than 0.001). Ligation of the pancreatic, duct in pancreatoduodenectomy led to a 70 per cent incidence; the incidence was 33 per cent if the pancreas was anastomosed to the jejunum instead (P less than 0.001). Fistulas were rare in patients who had dilated pancreatic ducts. Fistulas, once they were established, were rarely influenced by treatment. One out of 5 patients developing pancreatic fistula died, while fistulas were responsible for half of the operative deaths. The study indicated that pancreatojejunostomy is safe in the presence of ductal dilatation; it does not, however, protect from fistula if the pancreatic duct is normal. It also indicated that radiation of the pancreatic remnant in selected patients with persistent fistulas might be a useful therapeutic alternative.