AIM:To identify risk factors related to pancreatic fistula in patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy (DP) and to determine the effectiveness of using a stapled and a sutured closed of pancreatic stump. METHODS:Sixty-four patients underwent DP during a 10-year period. Information regarding diagnosis, operative details, and perioperative morbidity or mortality was collected. Eight risk factors were examined. RESULTS:Indications for DP included primary pancreatic disease (n = 38, 59%) and non-pancreatic malignancy (n = 26, 41%). Postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 1.5% and 37% respectively; one patient died due to sepsis and two patients required a reoperation due to postoperative bleeding. Pancreatic fistula was developed in 14 patients (22%); 4 of fistulas were classified as Grade A, 9 as Grade B and only 1 as Grade C. Incidence of pancreatic fistula rate was significantly associated with four risk factors: pathology, use of prophylactic octreotide therapy, concomitant splenectomy, and texture of pancreatic parenchyma. The role that technique (either stapler or suture) of pancreatic stump closure plays in the development of pancreatic leak remains unclear. CONCLUSION:The pancreatic fistula rate after DP is 22%. This is reduced for patients with non-pancreatic malignancy, fibrotic pancreatic tissue, postoperative prophylactic octreotide therapy and concomitant splenectomy.

Purpose: Pancreatic cancer is a challenging malignancy with low treatment option and poor life expectancy. Thermal ablation techniques were proposed as alternative treatment options, especially in advanced stages and for unfit-for-surgery patients. This systematic review describes the thermal ablative techniques-i.e., Laser (LA), Radiofrequency (RFA), Microwave (MWA) Ablation, High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) and cryoablation-available for pancreatic cancer treatment. Additionally, an analysis of the efficacy, complication rate and overall survival for each technique is conducted. Material and methods: This review collects the ex vivo, preclinical and clinical studies presenting the use of thermal techniques in the pancreatic cancer treatment, searched up to March 2018 in PubMed and Medline. Abstracts, letters-to-the-editor, expert opinions, reviews and non-English language manuscripts were excluded. Results: Sixty-five papers were included. For the ex vivo and preclinical studies, there are: 12 records for LA, 8 for RFA, 0 for MWA, 6 for HIFU, 1 for cryoablation and 3 for hybrid techniques. For clinical studies, 1 paper for LA, 14 for RFA, 1 for MWA, 17 for HIFU, 1 for cryoablation and 1 for hybrid techniques. Conclusions: Important technological advances are presented in ex vivo and preclinical studies, as the real-time thermometry, nanotechnology and hybrid techniques to enhance the thermal outcome. Conversely, a lack of standardization in the clinical employment of the procedures emerged, leading to contrasting results on the safety and feasibility of some analyzed techniques. Uniform conclusions on the safety and feasibility of these techniques for pancreatic cancer will require further structured investigation.

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Although PG for upper third GC showed good results in terms of survival, it is associated with an increased mortality rate and a higher risk of reflux esophagitis and anastomotic stricture.

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Severe post-operative complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) are largely due to pancreatic fistula onset. The occlusion of the main pancreatic duct using synthetic glue may prevent these complications. Aim of this study is to describe this technique and to report short- and long-term results as well as the post-operative endocrine and exocrine insufficiency. Two hundred and four patients who underwent PD with occlusion of the main pancreatic duct in a period of 15 years were retrospectively analyzed. Post-operative complications and their management were the main aim of the study with particular focus on pancreatic fistula incidence and its treatment. At 1-year follow-up endocrine and exocrine functions were analyzed. We observed a 54 % pancreatic fistula incidence, most of which (77/204 patients) were a grade A fistula with little change in medical management. Twenty-eight patients developed a grade B fistula while only 2 % of patients (5/204) developed a grade C fistula. Nine patients required re-operation, 5 of whom had a post-operative grade C fistula. Post-operative mortality was 3.4 %. At 1-year follow-up, 31 % of patients developed a post-operative diabetes while exocrine insufficiency was encountered in 88 % of patients. The occlusion of the main pancreatic duct after PD can be considered a relatively safe and easy-to-perform procedure. It should be reserved to selected patients, especially in case of soft pancreatic texture and small pancreatic duct and in elderly patients with comorbidities, in whom pancreatic fistula-related complications could be life threatening.

The laparoscopic treatment of primary and secondary GPEH is safe and feasible in elective and emergency settings, especially in high-volume centers. The procedure is still challenging. The main steps are well defined. However, there is still room for improvement to lower the recurrence rate.