Clinical Study for Pancreatic Fistula After Distal Pancreatectomy with Mesh Reinforcement

Background: The purpose of this cohort study was to determine whether distal pancreatectomy with mesh reinforcement can reduce postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) rates compared with bare stapler.

Methods: In total, 51 patients underwent stapled distal pancreatectomy. Out of these, 22 patients (no mesh group) underwent distal pancreatectomy with bare stapler and 29 patients (mesh group) underwent distal pancreatectomy with mesh reinforced stapler. The risk factor for clinically relevant POPF (grades B and C) after distal pancreatectomy was also evaluated.

Results: Clinical characteristics were almost similar in both the groups. The days of the mean hospital stay and drainage tube insertion in the mesh group were significantly fewer than those in the no mesh group. The mean level of amylase in the discharge fluid in the mesh group was also significantly lower than that the in no mesh group. The rate of clinically relevant POPF (grades B and C ) in the mesh group was significantly lower than that in the no mesh group (p=0.016). Univariate analyses of risk factors for POPF (grades B and C) revealed that only mesh reinforcement was associated with POPF (grades B and C). Moreover, on multivariate analyses of POPF risk factors with p value<0.2 in univariate analyses by logistic regression, mesh reinforcement was regarded as a significant factor for POPF(grades B and C).

Conclusions: The distal pancreatectomy with mesh reinforced stapler was thought to be favorable for the prevention of clinically relevant POPF (grades B and C).