Advanced age is a risk factor for post-operative complications and mortality after a pancreaticoduodenectomy: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this meta-analysis was to analyse the outcomes of major pancreatic surgery among the elderly (≥75 and ≥80 years of age). METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane and PubMed databases on all studies published between January 1990 and April 2012 reporting peri-operative outcomes after a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) among the elderly. Primary end-points measured were peri-operative mortality and the incidence of post-operative complications. Secondary outcomes considered included the incidence of post-operative pancreatic fistula formation (POPF), delayed gastric emptying (DGE), wound infection, pneumonia, post-operative bleeding and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Eleven trials were included comprising 5186 patients; 7 studies comparing endpoints in patients aged ≥75 years vs. younger populations and 4 studies comparing endpoints in patients aged ≥80 years vs. younger populations. In both groups, there was a statistically significant increase in the incidence of mortality and post-operative pneumonia in the elderly population. The incidence of post-operative complications was also found to be statistically significant among patients ≥80 years of age vs. their younger cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increased incidence of post-operative mortality and pneumonia after a PD among all elderly patients ≥75 years of age, as well as an increased incidence of post-operative complications among patients ≥80 years of age. Additional randomized control trials studying post-PD operative outcomes in elderly vs. younger patients with standardization of comorbidities is therefore necessary to confirm the conclusions presented here.

Bilateral external iliac artery thrombosis due to endofibrosis in a 33-year-old female triathlete.

External iliac artery endofibrosis is a rare disease predominantly affecting young, elite male athletes. This case involves a 33-year-old female triathlete who presented initially with lower extremity claudication during training. After completing a triathlon 1 year later, the patient experienced acute-onset pain in both legs. Computed tomography angiography showed abrupt occlusion of the bilateral proximal external iliac arteries. The patient underwent a right and left external iliac artery reconstruction using the ipsilateral great saphenous vein and reported significant improvement of claudication symptoms. The case highlights a rare complication of acute bilateral arterial thrombosis.

External pancreatic duct stent reduces pancreatic fistula: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistula formation (POPF) remains one of the most common and detrimental complications following pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ). The aim of this meta-analysis is to analyze the efficacy of external pancreatic duct stent placement in preventing POPF formation following PJ. METHODS: The primary end-point was the incidence of POPF formation following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in the presence and absence of external stent placement. Secondary outcomes examined were the incidence of perioperative mortality, delayed gastric emptying, postoperative wound infection, operative time, blood loss, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Four trials were included comprising 416 patients. External pancreatic duct stenting was found to reduce the incidence of both any grade POPF formation (OR 0.37, 95% CI = 0.23 to 0.58, p = 0.0001) and clinically significant (grade B or C) POPF formation (OR 0.50, 95% CI = 0.30 to 0.84, p = 0.0009) following PD. The use of an external stent was also found to significantly lessen length of hospital stay (SMD -0.39, 95% CI = -0.63 to -0.15, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis has shown that external pancreatic duct stenting is indeed efficacious in the incidence of both any grade as well as clinically significant POPF formation following PD. Length of hospital stay was also found to be significantly less by external duct stenting.