Pancreatogastrostomy following pancreatoduodenectomy: a safe drainage procedure.

The propensity for leakage and disruption at the site of the pancreatojejunostomy is a major reason for morbidity and death after pancreatoduodenal resection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of pancreatogastrostomy as an alternative method of restoring pancreatointestinal continuity. From January 1989 to June 1991, 32 patients (28 with malignant tumors and 4 with chronic pancreatitis) underwent pancreatogastrostomy following pancreatoduodenectomy. There were two postoperative deaths (6.2%) one of which could in part have been due to the anastomotic technique, too tight with postoperative pancreatitis as a result. There was one pancreatic fistula (3%) which recovered with further surgery. That pancreatogastrostomy is safe is well documented in the literature. That it is safer than the conventional anastomosis or provides a better functional result is still to be proved.