Treatment of pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy using a hand-made T-tube

Redo pancreaticojejunal anastomosis for late-onset complete pancreaticocutaneous fistula after pancreaticojejunostomy

BACKGROUND

Pancreaticojejunal (PJ) anastomosis occasionally fails several months after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with Child reconstruction and can ultimately result in a late-onset complete pancreaticocutaneous fistula (Lc-PF). Since the remnant pancreas is an isolated segment, surgical intervention is necessary to create internal drainage for the pancreatic juice; however, surgery at the previous PJ anastomosis site is technically challenging even for experienced surgeons. Here we describe a simple surgical procedure for Lc-PF, termed redo PJ anastomosis, which was developed at our facility.  METHODS: Between January 2008 and December 2020, six consecutive patients with Lc-PF after PD underwent a redo PJ anastomosis, and the short- and long-term clinical outcomes have been evaluated. The abdominal cavity is carefully dissected through a 10-cm midline skin incision, and the PJ anastomosis site is identified using a percutaneous drain through the fistula tract as a guide, along with the main pancreatic duct (MPD) stump on the pancreatic stump. Next, the pancreatic stump is deliberately immobilized from the dorsal plane to prevent injury to the underlying major vessels. After fixing a stent tube to both the MPD and the Roux-limb using two-sided purse-string sutures, the redo PJ anastomosis is completed using single-layer interrupted sutures. Full-thickness pancreatic sutures are deliberately avoided by passing the needle through only two-thirds of the anterior side of the pancreatic stump.

RESULTS

The redo PJ anastomosis was performed without any intraoperative complications in all cases. The median intraoperative bleeding and operative time were 71 (range 10-137) mL and 123 (range 56-175) min, respectively. Even though a new mild pancreatic fistula developed postoperatively in all cases, it could be conservatively treated within 3 weeks, and no other postoperative complications were recorded. During the median follow-up period of 92 (range 12-112) months, no complications at the redo PJ anastomosis site were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

This research shows that the redo PJ anastomosis for Lc-PF we developed is a safe, feasible, and technically no demanding procedure with acceptable short- and long-term clinical outcomes. This procedure has the potential to become the preferred treatment strategy for Lc-PF after PD.

Salvage anastomosis for postoperative chronic pancreatic fistula

Salvage anastomosis for postoperative chronic pancreatic fistula is challenging, and its safety and surgical outcomes remain unclear. Four patients with postoperative chronic pancreatic fistulas who underwent surgical interventions in our institute were retrospectively reviewed. A re-pancreatojejunostomy was performed in two patients with a disruption of the pancreatojejunostomy and a dilated main pancreatic duct of the remnant pancreas. A fistulojejunostomy was performed in the remaining two patients with a duct disruption after necrosectomy for necrotic severe acute pancreatitis and non-dilated main pancreatic duct. The median duration from the onset of the pancreatic fistula to the surgical intervention was 4.5 months (range 4-6 months). The median operation time was 151 min (range 38-257 min) and the median blood loss was 200 mL (range 5-350 mL). According to the Clavien-Dindo classification, one patient had grade 0, two patients had grade I, and one patient had grade II (wound infections). The median length of hospital stay was 22 days (range 21-28 days). There were no recurrences of pancreatic fistulas. Salvage anastomosis according to the simple radiologic classification for postoperative chronic pancreatic fistulas is a safe and effective procedure.

Percutaneous drainage for afferent limb syndrome and pancreatic fistula via the blind end of the jejunal limb after pancreatoduodenectomy or bile duct resection

PURPOSE

To investigate the feasibility of percutaneous drainage via the blind end of the jejunal limb (BEJL) for afferent limb syndrome and pancreatic fistula.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Percutaneous drainage via the BEJL was performed in eight patients (seven men and one woman; mean age, 63 y; range, 42-71 y) presenting with afferent limb syndrome (n = 6) or pancreatic fistula (n = 2) following pancreatoduodenectomy or bile duct resection with reconstruction at our institute from March 2005 to June 2013. Reconstruction was performed by using a modified Child method or the Roux-en-Y method, and the BEJL was surgically fixed to the abdominal wall. Afferent limb syndrome was caused by tumor recurrence or postoperative complications. Technical success, clinical success, and complications were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Technical success of drainage via BEJL was achieved in all patients. Drainage catheters (5-10 F) were inserted into the afferent limbs of six patients, into the pancreatic duct of one patient, and into the pancreatic fistula of one patient. Metallic stents were subsequently placed to address malignant afferent limb obstruction in two patients. Clinical success was achieved in seven patients (87.5%), and no patients developed major complications. Drainage catheters were removed from four patients. The mean catheter indwelling period in all patients was 143 days (range, 21-292 d).

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous drainage via BEJL after pancreatoduodenectomy or bile duct resection may be a feasible treatment for afferent limb syndrome and pancreatic fistula.

Anatomy-based surgical strategy of gastrointestinal fistula treatment

Anatomic delineation of a gastrointestinal fistula is essential in assessing the likelihood of spontaneous closure or to plan the surgical management. Computed tomography (CT) enterography and/or fistulograms provide invaluable information. The surgical strategy should carefully consider the when and how, as well as the special clinical situations that may arise following radiotherapy, the inaccessible or "frozen abdomen", and enteroatmospheric fistulas (EAFs). New operations like those performed in bariatric surgery, and the wide acceptance of the damage-control philosophy in severe trauma, have given rise to new types of fistulas and increased the occurrence of others. When confronted with this difficult complication, the surgeon must always exercise patience and restraint, and be open-minded about the different surgical alternatives to solve the problem.