Effect of different pancreatic stump closure techniques during distal pancreatectomy to the frequency and severity of acute postoperative pancreatitis

The Aim: to study the effect of different pancreatic stump closure techniques, including depending on the diameter of the main pancreatic duct to frequency and severity of acute postoperative pancreatitis after distal pancreatectomy. Material and Methods. Distal pancreatectomies were performed in 126 patients with neoplasms of the body and/or tail of the pancreas. Patients were divided into 4 groups depending on the pancreatic stump closure techniques. Group 1 (control): isolated suturing of the main pancreatic duct of the pancreatic stump with its sealing by gastrocolic omentum or hemostatic sponge; group 2: isolated suturing of the main pancreatic duct of the pancreatic stump with its sealing by biological glue 2-octylcyanoacrylate; group 3: pancreatic stump closure were performed by Endoscopic Linear Cutter; group 4: after distal pancreatectomy were performed external transduodenal transnasal drainage of the enlarged main pancreatic duct of pancreatic stump. Results. The frequency of acute postoperative pancreatitis in the control group of patients was 45.8%, in the group 2 of patients — 44.4%, in the group 3 of patients — 9.7%, in the group 4 of patients — 15.0%. The use of the proposed pancreatic stump closure techniques after distal pancreatectomy resulted in a decrease of the frequency of moderate form of acute postoperative pancreatitis. The use of Endoscopic Linear Cutter and external transduodenal transnasal drainage of the enlarged main pancreatic duct resulted in decrease of frequency of acute postoperative pancreatitis in patients with a diameter of the main pancreatic duct of the pancreatic stump up to 5 mm. Conclusion. The use of the proposed pancreatic stump closure techniques after distal pancreatectomy resulted in the decrease of frequency and severity of acute postoperative pancreatitis.