Low incidence of pancreatic fistula and well-preserved endocrine function with non-reconstructed small remnant pancreas after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Aim

Pancreatic reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) that leaves a small remnant pancreas is often difficult. Pancreatic fistula is a major complication after PD, and fistulas are rare in patients with hard pancreas. However, the clinical impact of non-reconstructed small remnant after PD with hard pancreas is unknown.

Methods

We included all patients who underwent PD for pancreatic tumor without pancreatic reconstruction in two institutions supervised by one surgeon between January 2004 and March 2021. Their short- or long-term outcome after surgery was retrospectively analyzed.

Results

PD was performed in 774 patients, of whom 16 patients were without reconstruction (2.1%) with negative margins at the pancreatic stump. Pancreatic transection was performed above or to the left of the superior mesenteric artery, with a median remnant pancreas length of 3.7 cm (range, 1.3–10.0). A major complication (≥ Clavien–Dindo Grade IIIa) occurred in one patient (6%). Fistula of grade B occurred in one patient (6%). After a median follow-up of 44 months (95%CI, 10.6–77.3), insulin administration was unnecessary in 11 patients.

Conclusion

The preservation of a small pancreatic remnant without reconstruction after PD can be performed safely and may enable the keeping of pancreatic endocrine function for some selected patients with hard pancreas.