Delayed gastric emptying after pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy--does gastrointestinal reconstruction technique matter?

BACKGROUND: The best gastrointestinal reconstruction route after pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy remains debatable. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) after antecolic (AC) and retrocolic (RC) duodenojejunostomy in these patients.

DATA SOURCES: Studies comparing AC to RC reconstruction after pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy were identified from literature databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane). The meta-analysis included 10 studies with a total of 1,067 patients, where 504 patients underwent AC and 563 patients underwent RC reconstruction. The incidence of DGE was significantly lower with AC reconstruction in both randomized controlled trials (risk ratio = .44, confidence interval = .24 to.77, P = .005) and retrospective studies (risk ratio .21, confidence interval .14 to .30, P < .001) with less output and days of nasogastric tube use. AC reconstruction was associated with a decreased length of stay. There was no difference in operative time, blood loss, pancreatic fistula, and abdominal abscess/collections.

CONCLUSIONS: AC reconstruction seems to be associated with less DGE, with no association with pancreatic fistula or abscess formation.