Yaw-Fui Alexander Chung

Critical Appraisal of 232 Consecutive Distal Pancreatectomies With Emphasis on Risk Factors, Outcome, and Management of the Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula : A 21-Year Experience at a Single Institution

OBJECTIVE To critically analyze a large single-institution experience with distal pancreatectomy (DP), with particular attention to the risk factors, outcome, and management of the postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF). DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS A total of 232 consecutive patients with pancreatic or extrapancreatic disease necessitating DP over 21 years. INTERVENTIONS Twenty-one patients underwent spleen-preserving DP, 117 underwent DP with splenectomy, and 94 underwent DP with multiorgan resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The perioperative and postoperative data of patients who underwent DP were analyzed. This included factors associated with postoperative morbidity with particular attention to the PF (defined by the International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula) and changing trends in operative and perioperative data during the study period. RESULTS The overall operative morbidity and mortality were 47% (107 patients) and 3% (7 patients), respectively. During the study period, the rates of resection increased from 3 cases to 23 per year, and increasingly these were performed for smaller and incidental lesions. The morbidity rate remained unchanged, but there was a decline in postoperative stay and the need for care in the intensive care unit. Pancreatic fistulas occurred in 72 patients (31%); 41 (18%) were grade A, 13 (6%) grade B, and 18 (8%) grade C. Increased weight, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists score, blood loss greater than 1 L, increased operation time, decreased albumin level, and sutured closure of the stump without main duct ligation were associated with a postoperative PF on univariate analysis. A DP with splenectomy was associated with a higher incidence of grade B or C PF and non-PF-related complications. Ninety-two percent of PFs were successfully managed nonoperatively. Clinical outcomes correlated well with PF grading, as evidenced by the progressive increase in outcome measures such as postoperative stay, readmissions, reoperations, radiologic interventions, and non-PF-related complications from grade A to C PFs. CONCLUSIONS Pancreatic fistula is the most common complication after DP and its incidence varies depending on the definition applied. Several risk factors for developing a PF were identified. Splenic preservation after DP is safe. The grade of a PF correlates well with clinical outcomes, and most PFs may be managed nonoperatively.

Pancreatic Serous Oligocystic Adenomas: Clinicopathologic Features and a Comparison with Serous Microcystic Adenomas and Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms

The preoperative distinction between serous cystic neoplasms (SCNs) and mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) is essential, as all MCNs are considered malignant or potentially malignant and should be surgically resected, whereas SCNs are almost always benign. However, the radiologic distinction between SCNs and MCNs is frequently difficult especially with serous oligocystic adenoma (SOA), a morphologic variant of SCN, as both SOA and MCN appear on cross-sectional imaging as a solitary macrocystic lesion in the pancreas. We reviewed all SOAs managed at our institution to determine if any clinicopathologic features would prove useful for establishing a preoperative diagnosis. Over a 15-year period, 64 patients with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of a pancreatic cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma treated at Singapore General Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. There were 27 MCNs and 37 SCNs including 12 SOAs. In addition, 40 cases of SOA previously reported in the literature were reviewed and analyzed together with the 12 patients, making this a series of 52 SOAs. In our experience, SOAs comprised 32.4% of the SCNs, and females predominated (7/12). The median age of the patients was 42.5 years (range 22–74 years), and only 4 of the 12 patients were symptomatic. Most of the cysts were located in the body or tail of the pancreas (9/12), and the median cyst size was 52.5 mm (range 10–190 mm). When the clinicopathologic features of SOAs and serous microcystic adenomas (SMAs) were compared, there was no difference between the patients with SOAs and SMAs in terms of age, sex, presence of symptoms, cyst size, or site of the lesion. However, SOAs occurred in the women less frequently (67.3% vs. 96.3%, P = 0.004), were smaller [40 mm (range 10–190 mm) vs. 95 mm (range 25–180 mm), P < 0.001], and occurred more commonly in the head of the pancreas [25 (48.1%) vs. 2(7.4%)] compared to MCNs. None of the SOAs were frankly malignant compared to the 29.6% of MCNs that were. SOAs and SMAs have similar clinicopathologic features. On the other hand, SOAs differ from MCNs by their relatively higher male/female ratio, higher frequency of tumors occurring in the head of the pancreas, and smaller cyst size. Knowledge of these distinguishing clinical features when used in combination with other diagnostic modalities such as endoscopic ultrasonography/fine-needle aspiration will enable clinicians to better differentiate these two pathologic entities preoperatively.

Randomized controlled trial of standard versus high‐dose intravenous omeprazole after endoscopic therapy in high‐risk patients with acute peptic ulcer bleeding

Rebleeding from peptic ulcers is a major contributor to death. This study compared standard (40‐mg intravenous infusion of omeprazole once daily for 3 days) and high‐dose (80‐mg bolus of omeprazole followed by 8‐mg/h infusion for 72 h) in reducing the rebleeding rate (primary endpoint), need for surgery, duration of hospital stay and mortality in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding after successful endoscopic therapy.

Outcome of Distal Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Objectives: To determine the outcome of patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: A retrospective review of 39 patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy for adenocarcinoma. Results: Thirty patients underwent surgery for ductal adenocarcinoma, 5 for malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and 4 for mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. Malignant cystic neoplasms were significantly less likely to demonstrate perineural invasion, more likely to be well-differentiated, of lower T stage and of lower AJCC staging compared to ductal adenocarcinoma. These had a longer median disease-specific survival (42 (3–144) vs. 15 (14–16) months, p = 0.002). Eight patients underwent extended resections. These were associated with longer operating times compared to standard resections but there was no difference in surgical morbidity or mortality, blood transfusions, length of hospitalization or long-term survival. Univariate analysis demonstrated that R2 resection, size >30 mm, lymph node involvement, need for perioperative blood transfusion, serum albumin <40 g/l and platelet count <200/µl were predictors of survival for ductal adenocarcinoma. Conclusions: Malignant cystic neoplasms have less aggressive behavior and more favorable outcome compared to ductal adenocarcinoma. R2 resection, larger tumor size, lymph node involvement, perioperative transfusion, decreased serum albumin and low platelet count are factors associated with decreased survival in patients with ductal adenocarcinoma undergoing distal pancreatectomy.

Biliary-enteric transanastomotic stenting with Intestofix.

Background:  Biliary‐enteric transanastomotic stenting is useful under adverse local conditions or when small‐calibre bile ducts are encountered.