Objective: To compare the reconstructing safety of pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) versus pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).
Methods: The articles of prospectively controlled trials published until late December 2010 comparing PJ and PG after PD were searched by the means of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register databases and Chinese Biomedical Database. After quality assessment of all included prospective controlled trials, a meta-analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.0 for statistic analysis.
Results: A total of 6 prospective controlled trials were included. Among 867 patients analyzed, 440 underwent PG and 426 PJ. A meta-analysis of 6 prospective controlled trials (including randomized control trial (RCT) and non-randomized prospective trial) revealed significant differences between PJ and PG regarding the overall postoperative complication rates [OR 0.53, 95%CI (0.30, 0.95), P = 0.03], pancreatic fistula [OR 0.47, 95%CI (0.22, 0.97), P = 0.04] and intra-abdominal fluid collection [OR 0.42, 95%CI (0.25, 0.72), P = 0.001]. The differences in biliary fistula, intra-abdominal (IAC) complications and mortality were of no significance. Meta-analysis of 4 RCTs revealed significant differences between PJ and PG regarding intra-abdominal fluid collection [OR 0.46, 95%CI (0.26, 0.79), P = 0.005]. The differences in pancreatic fistula, overall postoperative complications, biliary fistula, intra-abdominal complications and mortality were of no statistical significance.
Conclusion: Through a meta-analysis of 6 prospective controlled trials, there are significant differences between PJ and PG regarding overall postoperative complications, pancreatic fistula and intra-abdominal fluid collection. Significant differences exist between PJ and PG regarding intra-abdominal fluid collection. The safety profiles of PG and PJ are comparable.