Study aim: To evaluate the influence of a pylorus-preserving on the morbidity and prognosis of patient with pancreaticoduodenectomy for adenocarcinoma of pancreas.
Patients and methods: Between 1985 and 1999, 183 patients were operated on for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Among them, 63 patients (40 men, mean age 63 years, range 41-77 years) had curative resection and were included in this retrospective study. They were classified according to the type of resection. In the group I, the procedure included a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 35). In the group II, the procedure included polar inferior gastrectomy (n = 28). The prognosis was compared. Parameters for comparison were rate of local recurrence, rate of metastatic evolution and duration of survival.
Results: The operative length and mortality rate (group I: 0%, group II: 3%), general (p = 0.37) and specific morbidity (p = 0.30), frequency of delayed gastric emptying were similar in the 2 groups (group I: 20%, group II: 35%, p = 0.88). The duration of naso-gastic aspiration was shorter in the group I (6 days vs 8, p = 0.01). The prognosis was the same in the 2 groups (metastasis: group I: 39%, group II: 56%, p = 0.12, local recurrence: group I: 58%, group II: 43%, p = 0.09, mean survival: group I: 18 months, group II: 19 months, p = 0.77).
Conclusion: These results suggest that pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy could be performed for patients with adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas and does not compromise survival.