Affiliation:
1. Department of General Surgery, Juntendo University Nerima Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified reconstruction technique—anchored straight stomach reconstruction—in reducing the incidence of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and its impact on postoperative nutritional recovery. Methods A case series analysis of 125 consecutive PD patients was conducted: 104 of them had undergone anchored straight stomach reconstruction (SSR group) and the remaining 21 without (Non-SSR group). The incidence of DGE and the change in postoperative nutritional status (body weight and serum albumin level during 12 months post-surgery) were compared. Results The incidence of DGE in the SSR group (13%) was significantly lower than that in the Non-SSR group (33%) ( P = .018); further the significant DGE (grade B or C) was only 5%. Comparison of nutritional status showed that SSR facilitated a prompt recovery of body weight and serum albumin level at 6 months after PD. At 12 months after surgery, body weight gain was significantly better in the SSR group than in the Non-SSR group ( P = .006), and albumin level tended to be higher in the SSR group ( P = .071). Conclusion Straight stomach reconstruction is able to reduce DGE in patients after PD and also improves their postoperative nutritional recovery.