Total resection of pancreatic uncinate process reduces the incidence of pancreatic fistula following pancreaticoduodenectomy

Abstract

Objective To study the causes of pancreatic fistula following pancreatioduodenectomy, and evaluate the effect of total pancreatic uncinate process resection on the prevention of pancreatic fistula by analyzing the potential aetiology of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.Methods The clinical data of 68 patients, who were admitted into the No. 1 ward of Surgical Department of Peking University First Hospital during the period from Jan. 2004 to Jun. 2009, were retrospectively analyzed. The day-average level of amylase higher than 3 times of normal value, as measured from the drainage of peritoneal cavity, serves as the diagnostic criterion of the postoperative pancreatic fistula.Factors relevant to fistula, which result in the abnormal increase of the amylase in the drain, such as the extent of resection of pancreatic uncinate process, the anastomotic manners of pancreas and digestive tract, and the pancreatic fibrosis were statistically analyzed. Results The incidence of pancreatic fistula was 33. 8% according to the diagnostic criterion mentioned above; Single factor analysis showed that the resection extent of uncinate process (P = 0. 000) and the level of serum glucose ( P = 0. 045 ) were correlated with the occurrence of pancreatic fistula. Multivariate analysis identified that the independent risk factor for pancreatic fistula was the resection extent of uncinate process(P =0. 000). Pancreatic fibrosis, the manners of the anastomosis of pancreas and digestive tract were not independent risk factors. Conclusion Total resection of uncinate process could prevent pancreatic fistula from residual pancreatic uncinate process, hence reduce the incidence of pancreatic fistula following pancreaticoduedenectomy. Key words: Pancreaticoduodenectomy; Pancreatic fistula; Pancreatic uncinate