Short and long-term post-operative outcomes of duodenum preserving pancreatic head resection for chronic pancreatitis affecting the head of pancreas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the short and long term outcomes of duodenum preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) procedures in the treatment of painful chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed to identify all comparative studies evaluating long and short term postoperative outcomes (pain relief, morbidity and mortality, pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function). RESULTS: Five published studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria including 1 randomized controlled trial comparing the Beger and Frey procedure. In total, 323 patients underwent surgical procedures for chronic pancreatitis, including Beger (n = 138) and Frey (n = 99), minimal Frey (n = 32), modified Frey (n = 25) and Berne's modification (n = 29). Two studies comparing the Beger and Frey procedure were entered into a meta-analysis and showed no difference in post-operative pain (RD = -0.06; CI -0.21 to 0.09), mortality (RD = 0.01; CI -0.03 to 0.05), morbidity (RD = 0.12; CI -0.00 to 0.24), exocrine insufficiency (RD = 0.04; CI -0.10 to 0.18) and endocrine insufficiency (RD = -0.14 CI -0.28 to 0.01). CONCLUSION: All procedures are equally effective for the management of pain for chronic pancreatitis. The choice of procedure should be determined by other factors including the presence of secondary complications of pancreatitis and intra-operative findings. Registration number CRD42015019275. Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, 2009.

Correlation between preoperative biliary drainage, bile duct contamination, and postoperative outcomes for pancreatic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Although previously examined, the potential relationship between preoperative biliary drainage (PBD), intraoperative bile culture (IBC), and postoperative morbidity and mortality rate for pancreatic surgery remains unclear. METHODS: Two hundred twenty patients underwent operation for either benign pancreatic disease or malignant periampullary and pancreatic neoplasms, consisting of pylorus-preserving proximal pancreatoduodenectomy (n = 180), biliary bypass (n = 31), and total pancreatectomy (n = 9). An intraoperative bile specimen was prospectively collected immediately after division of the bile duct and sent for bacteriologic evaluation for both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. Morbidity and mortality rates were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 220 patients evaluated, 113 patients (51.4%) had a positive IBC. Factors associated with a positive IBC were age >70 years (odds ratio [OR], 5.9;95% confidence interval, [CI]: 1.6-22.1; P = .007), history of coronary artery disease (OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01-0.5; P = .007), diagnosis of neoplasia (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1-0.9; P =. 03), and PBD (OR, 0.1; 95% CI, 0.06-0.2; P = .0001). Infectious complications (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1-3; P = .03), and wound infection (OR, 2.8; 95% CI,1.4-5.3; P = .002) were greater in patients with positive IBC. CONCLUSIONS: PBD predisposes to a positive IBC. Patients with a positive IBC have a clinically important increased risk of developing both infectious complications and wound infection after pancreatic surgery.