Ultrasonic Dissection versus Conventional Dissection for Pancreatic Surgery: A Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• The clinical efficacy of ultrasonic dissection (UD) versus conventional dissection (CD) in pancreatic surgery is debated.
• Evaluating UD's impact on patient outcomes is crucial for surgical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis comparing ultrasonic dissection (UD) with conventional dissection (CD) in pancreatic surgery.
• To assess the clinical effectiveness and perioperative outcomes of UD.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library).
• Included studies compared UD and CD for pancreatic surgery.
• Risk ratios (RR) and mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

Main Results:

• Six studies involving 425 patients (215 UD, 210 CD) were analyzed.
• UD significantly reduced pancreatic fistula and abdominal abscess rates in distal pancreatectomy (RR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.27-0.76).
• UD also led to shorter operation times and hospital stays, and less intraoperative blood loss and transfusions.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasonic dissection (UD) demonstrates superior perioperative outcomes compared to conventional dissection (CD) in pancreatic surgery.
• UD is associated with reduced complications and improved efficiency, especially in distal pancreatectomy.
• Further research may solidify UD's role in pancreatic procedures.