Comparison of Two Pancreatic Anastomosis Techniques in terms of Postoperative Complications After Pancreaticoduodenectomy

OBJECTIVE: In this retrospective study, we compared the postoperative complications by using both the Clavien–Dindo classification and the Revised 2016 International Study Group on Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) classification methods after pancreaticoduodenectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of patients were retrospectively reviewed. Pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) and pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) were performed on 41 and 40 patients, respectively. The patients were assigned into two groups for anastomosis types and compared with each other according to postoperative complications. The postoperative follow-up period of the patients was limited to 90 days. RESULTS: No significant difference was detected between the two groups in terms of gender (P = .581) and age (P = .809). According to the Clavien–Dindo classification system, grade 1 complication rates were 29.3% and 35.0% in PJ and PG groups, respectively. Also, grade 2 complication rates were 34.1% and 32.5% in PJ and PG groups, respectively. Besides, grade 3B complication rates were 9.8% and 17.5% in PJ and PG groups, respectively. No grade 3A, grade 4A, and grade 4B complications were detected in both groups. But, grade 5 complications rates were 2.4% and 5.0% in PJ and PG groups, respectively. Based on the ISGPS classification system, the pancreatic fistulas were classified. The biochemical leak rates were calculated as 26.8% and 37.5% in PJ and PG groups, respectively. The rates were 14.6% and 10% in PJ and PG groups, respectively, for grade B complications. Also, grade C complication rates were 9.75% and 12.5% in PJ and PG groups, respectively. No statistically significant differences were detected between the two groups for postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The evidence from this retrospective study suggests that there is no difference between the two types of pancreatic anastomosis techniques (PJ or PG) in terms of the rate of postoperative complications.