Innovative Pancreas Ligation Band for Distal Pancreatectomy: A Pilot In Vivo Porcine Study

Introduction Although new techniques and devices have been introduced, the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after distal pancreatectomy remains high. To reduce the risk of POPF, we developed an innovative ligation band and conducted this pilot study to assess the possibility of reducing the incidence of POPF and pancreatic necrosis after distal pancreatectomy. Methods Distal pancreatectomy was performed in three pigs. In two animals, ligation of the pancreas was performed while maintaining arterial blood flow to the stump, and in one animal, the arterial blood flow was occluded. After ligation, the pancreas was sharply divided. Animals were sacrificed seven days later, and the remnant pancreas was assessed histologically. POPF was defined as amylase in ascites > 3x the preoperative serum amylase level. The following equation was used to quantify the extent of necrotic tissue: necrotic tissue residual rate = necrotic tissue area/ cross-sectional area. Results All animals survived, and no POPF developed. For two animals in which arterial blood flow to the stump was maintained, necrotic tissue residual rates at the ligation line were 24% and 31%. At the pancreatic stump, necrotic tissue residual rates were 37% and 50%. In the animal in which arterial blood flow to the stump was occluded, the necrotic tissue residual rate at the ligation line was 83% and that at the pancreatic stump was 78%, both higher than that in animals in which arterial blood flow was maintained. In all animals, there was no injury to pancreatic tissue at the ligation line. Conclusion The pancreas ligation band can potentially prevent POPF after distal pancreatectomy by atraumatic ligation, and the band ligates the pancreatic stump while maintaining arterial blood flow and limiting pancreatic necrosis.