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Fistulojejunostomy Versus Distal Pancreatectomy for the Management of the Disconnected Pancreas Remnant Following Necrotizing Pancreatitis

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery

Abstract

Background

A disconnected distal pancreas (DDP) remnant is a morbid sequela of necrotizing pancreatitis. Definitive surgical management can be accomplished by either fistulojejunostomy (FJ) or distal pancreatectomy (DP). It is unclear which operative approach is superior with regard to short- and long-term outcomes.

Methods

Between 2002 and 2014, patients undergoing either FJ or DP for DDP were retrospectively identified at a center specializing in pancreatic diseases. Patient demographics, perioperative, and postoperative variables were evaluated.

Results

Forty-two patients with DDP secondary to necrotizing pancreatitis underwent either a FJ (n = 21) or DP (n = 21). Between the two cohorts, there were no significant differences in overall lengths of stay, pancreatic leak rates, or readmission rates (all p > 0.05). DP was associated with higher estimated blood loss, increased transfusion requirements, and worsening endocrine function (all p < 0.05). At a median follow-up of 18 months, four patients that underwent a FJ developed a recurrent fluid collection requiring re-intervention. Overall, FJ was successful in 80% of patients as compared to a 95% success rate for DP (p = 0.15).

Conclusions

Although DP was associated with higher intraoperative blood loss, increased transfusion requirements, and worsening of preoperative diabetes, this procedure provides superior long-term resolution of a DDP when compared to FJ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 231 Albert Sabin Way, ML 0558, SRU Room 1466, Cincinnati, OH, 45219, USA

    Vikrom K. Dhar, Jeffrey M. Sutton, Brent T. Xia, Nick C. Levinsky, Gregory C. Wilson, Jeffrey J. Sussman, Michael J. Edwards & Syed A. Ahmad

  2. Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Milton Smith

  3. Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Kyuran A. Choe, Jonathan Moulton, Doan Vu & Ross Ristagno

  4. Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    Daniel E. Abbott

Authors
  1. Vikrom K. Dhar
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  2. Jeffrey M. Sutton
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  3. Brent T. Xia
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  4. Nick C. Levinsky
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  5. Gregory C. Wilson
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  8. Jonathan Moulton
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Contributions

Author Contributions

All persons who meet authorship criteria are listed as authors, and all authors certify that they have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the content, including participation in the concept, design, analysis, writing, or revision of the manuscript. Furthermore, each author certifies that this material or similar material has not been and will not be submitted to or published in any other publication before its appearance in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.

Conception and design of study: VK Dhar, JM Sutton, GC Wilson, DE Abbott, and SA Ahmad

Acquisition of data: VK Dhar, JM Sutton, BT Xia, NC Levinsky, GC Wilson, M Smith, KA Choe, J Moulton, D Vu, and R Ristagno

Analysis and/or interpretation of data: VK Dhar, JM Sutton, JJ Sussman, MJ Edwards, DE Abbott, and SA Ahmad

Drafting the manuscript: VK Dhar, JM Sutton, DE Abbott, and SA Ahmad

Revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content: VK Dhar, JM Sutton, BT Xia, NC Levinsky, GC Wilson, M Smith, KA Choe, J Moulton, D Vu, R Ristagno, JJ Sussman, MJ Edwards, DE Abbott, and SA Ahmad

Final approval of the version of the manuscript to be published: VK Dhar, JM Sutton, BT Xia, NC Levinsky, GC Wilson, M Smith, KA Choe, J Moulton, D Vu, R Ristagno, JJ Sussman, MJ Edwards, DE Abbott, and SA Ahmad

Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work: VK Dhar, JM Sutton, BT Xia, NC Levinsky, GC Wilson, M Smith, KA Choe, J Moulton, D Vu, R Ristagno, JJ Sussman, MJ Edwards, DE Abbott, and SA Ahmad

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Syed A. Ahmad.

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Dhar, V.K., Sutton, J.M., Xia, B.T. et al. Fistulojejunostomy Versus Distal Pancreatectomy for the Management of the Disconnected Pancreas Remnant Following Necrotizing Pancreatitis. J Gastrointest Surg 21, 1121–1127 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-017-3419-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-017-3419-9

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