Abstract
<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Pancreatic duct stents are widely used to reduce the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD); however, small stents may cause adverse effects, such as occlusion. Recently, we have tried placing a 7.5-Fr pancreatic duct stent to achieve more effective exocrine output from the pancreas; however, the association between pancreatic duct stent size and POPF remains unknown. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Sixty-five patients with soft pancreatic texture who underwent PD were retrospectively analyzed. After dividing the pancreas, a pancreatic duct stent (stent size 4.0 in 29 patients, 5.0 in 18, and 7.5 Fr in 18) was placed in the main pancreatic duct. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Twenty-five of 65 patients with soft pancreatic texture (38.5%) developed POPF. POPF became less frequent as the pancreatic duct stent size increased (<i>p</i> = 0.003). The factors associated with POPF development were a 7.5-Fr pancreatic duct stent (<i>p</i> = 0.005), 5.0-Fr pancreatic duct stent (<i>p</i> = 0.031), and male sex (<i>p</i> = 0.008). Pancreatic duct stent size and pancreatic duct diameter did not differ between the POPF and non-POPF groups. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusions:</i></b> In patients with a soft pancreas, the placement of a 7.5-Fr pancreatic duct stent may reduce the incidence of POPF.