Pylorus-preserving total pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer

Standard total pancreatectomy (TP) combined with gastric resection often results in uncontrollable diabetes and malnutrition. Pylorus-preserving total pancreatectomy (PPTP) and standard TP for pancreatic cancer were compared in terms of operative outcomes, nutritional recovery, and long-term survival. Twenty-four patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (n = 14) or intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma (N = 10) underwent PPTP (n = 10) or standard TP (n = 14). There were no significant differences in age, gender, or tumor type or stage between the PPTP and standard TP groups. Early (within 30 days of surgery) morbidity and mortality rates were 20% and 0% for PPTP and 29% and 7% for standard TP, respectively. Delayed gastric emptying occurred in 2 patients in each group. The incidence of late complications, including uncontrollable diabetes, diarrhea, and malnutrition, tended to be lower after PPTP (30%) than after standard TP (69%). Serum albumin and body weight at 6 months after surgery were significantly higher in the PPTP than in the standard TP group. Regardless of the tumor type, long-term survival did not differ significantly between patients receiving PPTP and those with standard TP. PPTP for pancreatic cancer improves nutritional recovery, without compromising long-term survival, compared with standard TP.