Stapling techniques to facilitate resection of the head of the pancreas

Thirteen patients underwent duodenocephalopancreatectomy (DCP) with the mechanical staplers to divide the pancreatic neck and to secure haemostasis of the retroportal pancreatic lamina. The stapling techniques used on the pancreas are described. In nine patients with DCP the stapled distal pancreas was anastomosed to the jejunum with Roux-en-Y drainage; one pancreatic complication and no deaths were observed. In four other patients undergoing DCP who were at high risk for severely compromised general conditions, reconstruction of the digestive tract was simplified by leaving the stapled distal pancreas definitively closed: pancreatic complications were recorded in two cases, with no deaths. Mechanical staplers considerably facilitated resection of the neck of the pancreas and of the retroportal pancreatic lamina. All 13 patients who underwent DCP with the use of stapler techniques on the pancreas, including four high-risk patients, were discharged to convalesce on an oral diet after a median postoperative hospital stay of 23 days (range 16-90 days).