[Pancreatojejunostomy or pancreatogastrostomy after cephalic pancreatoduodenectomy]

The propensity for leakage at the site of pancreatojejunostomy continues to be a major reason for morbidity and death after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Pancreatogastrostomy has been introduced as a possible alternative to pancreatojejunostomy and although this procedure was developed experimentally more than 50 years ago its use has not gained widespread clinical use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of pancreatogastrostomy. Pancreatogastrostomy was performed in 15 patients with pancreatic resection for carcinoma and compared with 57 pancreatojejunostomy. Our experience confirms that pancreatogastrostomy is a safe and easy method and suggest that it may be used more frequently.