PANCREATOGASTROSTOMY FOLLOWING PANCREATICODUODENECTOMY - A SAFE DRAINAGE PROCEDURE

The propensity for leakage and disruption at the site of the pancreato jejunostomy is a major reason for morbidity and death after pancreatod uodenal resection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safet y of pancreatogastrostomy as an alternative method of restoring pancre atointestinal continuity. From January 1989 to June 1991, 32 patients (28 with malignant tumors and 4 with chronic pancreatitis) underwent p ancreatogastrostomy following pancreatoduodenectomy. There were two po stoperative deaths (6.2%) one of which could in part have been due to the anastomotic technique, too tight with postoperative pancreatitis a s a result. There was one pancreatic fistula (3%) which recovered with further surgery. That pancreatogastrostomy is safe is well documented in the literature. That it is safer than the conventional anastomosis or provides a better functional result is still to be proved.