GASTRIC SEROSAL PATCH IN DISTAL PANCREATECTOMY FOR INJURY A NEGLECTEDTECHNIQUE

Distal pancreatectomy to manage disruption of the body and tail of the pancreas is a well-established surgical procedure. Fistula formation after distal pancreatectomy for injury may be as high as 24 per cent, and its treatment, although non-operative, prolongs hospitalization an d increases the patient's discomfort. We describe the gastric serosal patch technique designed to cover the pancreatic stump after distal pa ncreatectomy in injured patients. Although this procedure has been pre viously described, it did not receive appropriate acclaim. Our experie nce suggests that this technique may eliminate fistula formation and o ther complications, thereby reducing patient discomfort, morbidity and hospital stay. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.