Side-to-side duodenojejunostomy after resection of third and fourth duodenal portions with pancreatic preservation.

Infra-ampullary duodenal lesions are rare and surgical management is controversial. Reconstruction after resection is usually performed by end-to-end or end-to-side duodenojejunostomy. The goal was to analyze our experience, perioperative management, and results after side-to-side duodenojejunostomy. Therefore, we retrospectively evaluated short- and long-term results of surgical resections of third and fourth duodenal portions for several kinds of lesions and reconstruction through duodenojejunostomy performed in our facilities between January 2012 and December 2018. In total, 12 patients were selected for our study, six were male. The median age was 66.3 (IQR: 77.3-59.4). Lesion classification was as follows: 6 cases (50%) of duodenal adenocarcinoma, 4 cases (33.3%) of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), and 2 cases (16.7%) of benign pathology. The most frequent clinical presentation was obstruction with vomiting. The surgical technique of choice was resection of third and fourth duodenal portions with a segment of proximal jejunum. Digestive continuity was restored through side-to-side duodenojejunostomy in 11 cases (91.6%). The median operation time was 182.5 min (IQR 237.5-136.3 min). Nine of the 12 patients (75%) did not receive intra- or postoperative blood transfusions. Six patients (50%) experienced complications during post-op. Four of them (33%) experienced major complications (Clavien-Dindo > IIIa) and three required re-op. The median follow-up was 58.3 (95% CI 15-101.5) months. Of the 11 patients with long-term follow-up, 10 have remained asymptomatic during follow-up. The average disease-free survival (DFS) was 43.1 months for adenocarcinoma, and 93 months for GIST. Based on the results of our series, although small, pancreas-sparing duodenectomy could be considered a feasible and safe technique with adequate oncological results. Side-to-side duodenojejunostomy appears to be a safe technique, is easy to perform, and has good functional outcomes. More studies with a larger number of patients are necessary to confirm these findings.