Delayed gastric emptying after palliative gastrojejunostomy for carcinoma of the pancreas.

Fifty-seven patients with carcinoma of the pancreas underwent gastrojejunostomy (GJ) alone or in conjunction with biliary bypass. The mortality rate for GJ alone was 18%; for the combined biliary and duodenal bypass operation it was 5%. Fifteen patients (26%) had delayed gastric emptying (DGE) postoperatively for periods extending from nine to 31 days (average, 16 days); five patients (33%) died. Eight (57%) of 14 patients with preoperative duodenal obstruction and five (42%) of 12 patients with retrocolic GJ experienced DGE postoperatively. Stomal diameter in the patients with DGE averaged 6.5 cm, and 8.4 cm was the average in those without DGE. We conclude that DGE is a frequent and serious problem after GJ for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.