Gastric wall-covering method prevents pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy

Background/Aims: Pancreatic fistula is the most common complication after distal pancreatectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the usefulness of a new surgical technique, the gastric wall-covering method, after distal pancreatectomy. Methodology: The study group consisted of 53 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy. The management of the stump of the remnant pancreas was accomplished by the gastric wall-covering method (GWC group, n=20) or by conventional surgery (CS group, n=33). In the gastric wall-covering method, the cut surface of the pancreas is fixed to the posterior wall of the gastric body. Results: There were no significant differences in operating time, intraoperative blood loss, or texture of the remnant stump between the two groups. Postoperative pancreatic fistula was diagnosed in 1 patient (5.0%) in the GWC group and in 12 patients (36.4%) in the CS group (P=0.01). Conclusions: The gastric wall-covering method for the management of the pancreatic stump after distal pancreatectomy reduces the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula