Comparison of different pancreatic anastomosis techniques using the definitions of the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery: a single surgeon's experience.

Objectives: We aimed to compare different techniques using the definitions of the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery for postoperative complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Methods: The perioperative data of 119 patients that underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy by a single surgeon were retrospectively analyzed. Pancreaticojejunal anastomosis was performed using the dunking method (n = 39), the duct-to-mucosa anastomosis method (n = 40), and the duct-to-mucosa adaptation (n = 40).

Results: The most frequent complication was postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF; grades A, 21%; B, 8%; and C, 3%), postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH; grades B, 7% and C, 1%), and delayed gastric emptying (DGE; grades A, 1% and B, 6%). No significant differences in POPF were found between patients who underwent different types of pancreatic anastomoses. Only pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (P = 0.001) and pancreatic texture (P = 0.012) were potentially related to POPF. Patients with or without POPF grade A had shorter postoperative stays than patients with grade B or C POPF (P < 0.001), and similar findings were obtained for DGE and PPH.

Conclusions: The successful management of pancreatic anastomoses depends more on a meticulous surgical technique and appropriate experience rather than on the type of technique. Furthermore, the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery definitions of POPF, DGE, and PPH seem objective and universally acceptable.