Pancreatic resections: Early results and functional behaviour of the stapled pancreatic stump

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the standard surgical treatment for patients wit h pancreatic head cancer. Morbidity and mortality rate following this proce dure have decreased over the past several years. Leakage of the pancreatico enteric anastomosis is one of the most serious complications, often respons ible for a fatal out come. Several methods for the management of the pancre atic stump have been described in order to reduce the worrisome incidence o f this complication, with variable results. In this series, the Authors review their experience of 75 pancreatic resect ions and analyze the early results and functional behaviour of 6 patients i n which the pancreatic stump was stapled without pancreaticoenteric anastom osis.