Modified pancreaticoduodenectomy: experience with 81 cases, Wahab modification.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Now pancreaticoduodenectomy is considered a safe and acceptable line of treatment for periampullary tumors. In spite of improvements in the surgical technique it still has a high morbidity rate. In this study we introduce new technical modifications for the original procedure aiming to decrease the incidence of morbidity. METHODOLOGY: Between 1994-2000, 210 pancreaticoduodenectomies were done in the Gastroenterology Center, Mansoura University, Egypt for periampullary tumor. Eighty-one of these patients were subjected to modified pancreaticoduodenectomy. They were 57 men and 34 women with a mean age of 54 (+/- 8) years. Pancreatic carcinoma represented 54%, ampullary tumor 30%, bile duct carcinoma 5% and duodenal carcinoma 1.2%. The mean operative time was 3.7 +/- 0.5 hours and mean estimated blood loss during surgery was 733 +/- 48 mL. RESULTS: Hospital mortality occurred in 3.7% with an overall morbidity rate of 32%. The most common complications were delayed gastric emptying 8.9%, pancreatic fistulae 3.8%, wound infection 6.4%, biliary leakage 3.8% and bleeding 5%. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 9.4 +/- 1 days, with mean time for starting oral feeding 6 +/- 0.9 days. Late mortality occurred in 46% for the entire group with mean follow-up 22 +/- 19 months with actuarial survival for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years being 80, 45, 25, 15, and 10%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that this new modification made the operation easier with shorter operative time, less blood transfusion, low incidence of morbidity and short hospital stay. Moreover, it takes the advantages of lowering the incidence of biliary gastritis, cholangitis and peptic ulcer.

Postcholecystectomy bile duct injuries: experience with 49 cases managed by different therapeutic modalities.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In this study we present our experience in the management of iatrogenic biliary injuries. Forty-nine cases with iatrogenic biliary injuries were managed in our center during the period from 1984 to 1995. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty patients were referred from other hospitals after cholecystectomy, and 9 cases underwent the original operation in our center. Four (0.3%) of our patients after 1300 conventional cholecystectomy, and 5 (0.9%) cases after 550 laparoscopic cholecystectomy. RESULTS: The injuries were recognized intraoperatively in 5 (10%) cases and were immediately repaired, 3 cases by axial anastomosis and T-tube drainage, 2 cases by hepatico-jejunostomy (Roux-en-Y). The injuries were detected in the remaining 44 patients postoperatively from one week up to 2 months, the mode of presentation was jaundice in 39 (89%) cases, biliary fistula with or without jaundice and biliary peritonitis were detected in 13 (30%) and in 4 (9%) cases respectively. Eleven (25%) cases were treated endoscopically by sphincterotomy, stent in 8 cases, dilatation and double stent in two cases, and dilatation using rigid dilators and stent in one case. The remaining 33 (75%) cases were treated surgically by hepatico-jejunostomy in 21 (64%) cases, and hepatico-duodenostomy in 12 (36%) cases. No hospital mortality occurred, but late mortality occurred in two (5%) patients after surgery due to biliary restricture with progressive cirrhosis in one case, and due to advanced colon cancer in the other case, an din one (9%) case after endoscopic treatment. We achieved 87% excellent surgical results during the period of follow-up (36 months), while 80% excellent results were achieved after endoscopic treatment. Good final results (95%, 83%) were achieved after hepatico-jejunostomy and after hepatico-duodenostomy respectively. CONCLUSION: Postcholecystectomy biliary injuries present a surgical problem needing extra efforts and careful management. Hepatico-jejunostomy appears to be the procedure of choice in repairing these injuries. Immediate surgical repair of bile duct injury offers excellent results with lower morbidity rates. Endoscopic treatment may be a less invasive technique and have a role in some types of injuries, but needs more time for accurate evaluation.