Pancreatic surgery after preoperative biliary drainage in periampullary cancers: does timing matter? A systematic...

Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) has been introduced to control the negative effects of obstructive jaundice in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The optimal time interval between PBD and PD remains unclear. The purpose of our systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the optimal period for PBD before PD.

Studies were searched in PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library until 30 March 2024. Studies using PBD in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice that compared the short duration group (SDG) with prolonged duration group (PDG) were included in this study. The definitions of short and prolonged drainage were based on cut-off times reported in the included studies.

Twelve studies were included. Based on the available data, short and prolonged drainage periods were defined by comparing the outcomes of surgeries performed within specific cut-off times of 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks after PBD. No significant differences were observed between the SDG and PDG in mortality, major morbidity, pancreatic fistula, post pancreatectomy haemorrhage, septic complications, operative time, and hospital stay, regardless of the delay of surgery.

When PBD is needed, pancreatic resection could be performed at the earliest possible stage after achieving optimal perioperative care.