Pancreaticogastrostomy versus pancreaticojejunostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The best reconstruction method for the pancreatic remnant after pancreaticoduodenectomy remains debatable. We aimed to investigate the perioperative outcomes of 2 popular reconstruction methods: pancreaticogastrostomy and pancreaticojejunostomy.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized controlled trials comparing pancreaticogastrostomy versus pancreaticojejunostomy were identified from literature databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library). The meta-analysis included 8 studies: 607 patients who underwent pancreaticogastrostomy and 604 who underwent pancreaticojejunostomy. Postoperative pancreatic fistula and intra-abdominal fluid collection rates were significantly lower after pancreaticogastrostomy compared with pancreaticojejunostomy. No statistically significant differences were found in the incidence of delayed gastric emptying, biliary fistula, hemorrhage, reoperation, wound infection, overall morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis suggests that pancreaticogastrostomy not only reduces the rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula but also decreases its severity. Pancreaticogastrostomy is associated with a lower rate of intra-abdominal fluid collection. Our results suggest that pancreaticogastrostomy should be the preferred reconstruction method.