Octreotide and postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy: What we know so far? A narrative review.

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is the most feared complication following pancreatic resection. Octreotide, a synthetic somatostatin analog, has been widely used by pancreatic surgeons worldwide after pancreatic resections, often as per surgeon's discretion, to prevent POPF especially in cases at high risk of developing POPF. We herein analyze the data available till date of the subject. A PubMed search with keywords "somatostatin OR octreotide OR somatostatin analogues AND postoperative pancreatic fistula" was made. Further filters were applied in the search "Clinical Trial, Meta-Analysis, Randomized Controlled Trial, Systematic Review, from 1990 - 2021," and the 68 results thus obtained were analyzed and included in this narrative review. There is considerable heterogeneity among the studies assessing the role of octreotide in the prevention of POPF making data comparison difficult, and hence results remain inconclusive. Most of the earlier studies used different definitions of POPF and other complications; included patients with varied pancreatic pathologies such as cancer, chronic pancreatitis, and benign lesions; surgical techniques such as pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, and other procedures; use of somatostatin and its analogs such as octreotide, lanreotide, pasireotide, and vapreotide; varied surgeon and institutional volume; and so on. Besides, pancreatic surgery is per se a complex surgical procedure and has its own inherent biases related to patient and the pancreas itself affecting the overall outcome. Data indicate favorable role of newer somatostatin analogs, and further studies are urgently needed. The question about the efficacy of prophylactic octreotide to reduce POPF after pancreaticoduodenectomy remains open to debate.

Mango-shaped Bi-paddled pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction for large full-thickness defects post resection of squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity: An analysis of 232 cases.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to examine the feasibility of bi-paddled pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flap reconstruction in patient undergoing full thickness composite resection. Materials and Methods: Inclusion criteria: The subjects chosen were patients with clinically T4A squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa, lower alveolus, and maxilla in with skin involvement. Patients required a full-thickness composite resection of intraoral lesion, bone (mandibular segment and/or maxilla), and overlying involved skin and had modified radical neck dissection. Exclusion criteria: Patients not requiring full thickness composite resection including skin. Patients were observed postoperatively for early and late postoperative complications, starting of oral feeding, post-operative trismus, and dysphagia during subsequent follow-up and cosmetic outcome. Results: Overall, the complication rate was 33.8% out of which only 7.8% required major re-surgery with second flap reconstruction. This is comparable with other large series of PMMC flap. Clavien-Dindo Grade I complications were seen in 9.5%, Grade II in 69.7%, Grade IIIA in 13.4%, and Grade IIIB in 7.45% of patients. Full-thickness partial flap necrosis included necrosis of either the external or the internal skin paddle. There were 15 cases - 6.5% of full thickness external paddle necrosis. These were mostly in patients with bite composite resections and having a larger random fasciocutaneous distal component of the flap without underlying muscle. Furthermore, 40% of these patients were females. In females, the flap necrosis comprised 4 of the 12 patients (33.33%). Conclusion: Pectoralis major mycocutaneous flap has been a boon to reconstruction of the oral cavity post its inception. In case of locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity, in many instances, there is a clinically significant cervical lymph nodal spread vessels post mandating a comprehensive lymph node dissection. PMMC flap provides a robust well vascularized muscular cover to the cervical vessels poststernocleidomastoid excision.

En Block Versus Separate Management of Cervical Nodes in Tongue and Floor of the Mouth Cancers- Is There a Difference? An Analysis of 85 Cases in a Tertiary Care Institute.

To evaluate difference in local recurrence, regional (neck) recurrence as well as distant metastases between cases operated with en-block excision of primary cancer and neck nodes versus their separate removal, in squamous cell carcinomas of anterior 2/3 of tongue and floor of the mouth. A total 85 patients of cT1-T4a N0-N2b of carcinoma anterior 2/3 of tongue and floor of mouth were evaluated. Amongst these patients 39 cases of in-continuity en-block neck dissection and 46 cases of discontinuous neck dissection were evaluated for post-operative complications as well as oncological outcome for a follow up period of 3 years. Patient population was similar in both groups with tongue cancers being the commonest site and tobacco being the most common addiction. Primary site hematoma was seen more in the in-continuity en-block neck dissection group with a p-value of 0.0276, which was statistically significant. Post-operative oro-cutaneous fistula occurred more in in-continuity enblock neck dissection as compared to discontinuous neck dissection, but the difference was not statistically significant. Local recurrence rate was significantly more in cases of discontinuous neck dissection (19.565) as compared to in-continuity en-block neck dissection (5.12%) with a p-Value 0.0481. A statistically non-significant but higher loco-regional recurrence was observed in cases of discontinuous neck dissection as compared to cases of in-continuity en-block neck dissection (10.56% vs 2.56). In the present study recurrence-free survival RFS 3 year in cases of en-block in-continuity neck dissection (84.06%) cases as compared to discontinuous neck dissection cases (63.04%) with p Value 0.025698. In-continuity en-block in continuity neck dissection has lower loco-regional recurrence and may impact overall distant metastases. Though early postoperative complications are more in in-continuity en-block in continuity neck dissection as compared to discontinuous neck dissection, most are managed conservatively. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to evaluate its outcome in a comprehensive manner.

Laparoscopic versus open management of duodenal perforation: a comparative study at a District General Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Duodenal perforation is one of the common pathologies in patients presenting in emergency with acute abdominal pain in an emergency ward and requires prompt surgery as life saving and curative intervention. The present study was conducted to determine whether the minimal access approach by laparoscopy was equally feasible as the open method. AIM: To compare laparoscopic vs. open management duodenal perforation in all aspects. INCLUSION CRITERIA: patients presenting to the emergency ward with acute pain in the abdomen with clinical signs of peritonitis and air under the diaphragm on X-ray abdomen standing were selected. Exclusion criteria were: patient age < 15 years and > 70 years, presentation > 2 days, shock with systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg which did not improve after hydration with 2000 ml of Ringer lactate solution, respiratory distress, history of cardiac disorder or respiratory disorders such as ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, bleeding and clotting disorders, pregnancy in females, previous upper abdominal surgery, and intra-operatively patients having perforation other than duodenal perforation. After excluding patients fitting the above criteria, two groups - test and control - were formed. RESULTS: We found that complications both early and late were significantly fewer in patients treated by laparoscopy. Thus laparoscopy was both feasible and had comparable mortality and leakage rate. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic management of perforated duodenal ulcer is feasible, effective and decreases morbidity and overall treatment time and cost if performed in properly selected patients.