Pancreaticojejunostomy of duct to mucosa anastomosis can be performed more safely without than with a stenting tube

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of performing a pancreaticojejunostomy with a duct-to-mucosa anastomosis without a stenting tube.MethodsOne hundred twenty-one patients with pancreaticojejunostomy, classified into 2 groups of those with duct-to-mucosa anastomoses with stenting tubes (group A; n = 49) and without stenting tubes (group B; n = 72), were investigated. Outcomes, including complications and survival rates, are reported.ResultsIn group A, morbidity was 32.7%, 6.7% had pancreatic fistulas, 14.3% had delayed gastric emptying, 6.1% had remnant pancreatitis, 2% had intra-abdominal abscesses, 2% had intra-abdominal bleeding, and mortality was 2%. In group B, morbidity (15.3%) and delayed gastric emptying (2.8%) showed significant differences from group A. Other results were nonsignificant. In the normal soft pancreas, pancreatic fistulas in group B (3.3%) were less frequent than in group A (12.5%).ConclusionPancreaticojejunostomy of a duct-to-mucosa anastomosis could be performed more safely without than with a stenting tube to obtain a definitive anastomosis and transection of the pancreas.