Pancreaticogastrostomy: clinical experience with a direct pancreatic-duct-to-gastric-mucosa anastomosis.

The propensity for leakage and disruption at the site of the pancreaticojejunostomy is a major reason for morbidity and death after pancreaticoduodenal resection. Because it is less prone to leakage and disruption, pancreaticogastrostomy has been reintroduced as a possible alternative to pancreaticojejunostomy. Of four patients in whom the pancreas was simply implanted into the stomach and five patients in whom a direct pancreatic-duct-to-gastric-mucosa anastomosis was constructed, there was no morbidity or death related to the pancreatic anastomosis. Because of evidence that a direct pancreatic-duct-to-gastric-mucosa anastomosis has an increased incidence of patency and because it was successful in a clinical setting, it is recommended.