Is routine nasogastric tube insertion necessary in pancreaticoduodenectomy?

The necessity of nasogastric decompression after abdominal surgical procedures has been increasingly questioned for several years. Traditionally, nasogastric decompression is a mandatory procedure after classical pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD); however, we still do not know whether or not it is necessary for PD. The present study was designed to assess the clinical benefit of nasogastric decompression after PD.

Between July 2004 and May 2007, 41 consecutive patients who underwent PD were enrolled in this study. Eighteen patients were enrolled in the nasogastric tube (NGT) group and 23 patients were enrolled in the no NGT group.

There were no differences in the demographics, pathology, co-morbid medical conditions, and pre-operative laboratory values between the two groups. In addition, the passage of flatus (P = 0.963) and starting time of oral intake (P = 0.951) were similar in both groups. In the NGT group, 61% of the patients complained of discomfort related to the NGT. Pleural effusions were frequent in the NGT group (P = 0.037); however, other post-operative complications, such as wound dehiscence and anastomotic leakage, occurred similarly in both groups. There was one case of NGT re-insertion in the NGT group.

Routine nasogastric decompression in patients undergoing PD is not mandatory because it has no clinical advantages and increases patient discomfort.