The effect of preoperative biliary drainage on postoperative complications of pancreaticoduodenectomy: a triple center retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Biliary obstruction which is a major complication of pancreas and periampullary tumors could result in cholangitis, coagulopathies, gastrointestinal symptoms, and impaired wound healing. Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is still the standard approach for pancreas resection and imposes high risk of morbidity and mortality to patients. To reduce the high risk of PD and address the biliary obstruction, the use of preoperative biliary stenting was increased. However, available literature doubts its efficiency. METHODS: A total of 147 patients who underwent PD between September 2012, and February 2022, at three medical centers were identified. Patients were grouped based on biliary stent placement. Non-jaundiced patients with and without preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) were compared. RESULTS: The incidence of overall complications (34.2% versus 45.8%) and mortality (17.8% versus 24.3%) did not differ in the PBD group compared to the no PBD group. There was no difference in complications and mortality in non-jaundiced patients with and without PBD. Patients with drainage duration of > 30 days experienced more overall complications compared to patients with less than 30 days drainage duration (12 (50.0%) and three (15.8%) patients, respectively, p-value = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: PBD does not significantly increase the post-operative burden on patients who undergo PD. However, we cannot overlook the financial burden that PBD places on the patient and the healthcare system, as well as the difficulties related to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Therefore, biliary stenting should not be routinely practiced in the absence of a valid indication, such as severe jaundice, pruritus, cholangitis, delayed surgery for neoadjuvant treatment, or referral to a tertiary facility.