Background: Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a complex procedure. Postoperative pancreatic fistula
(POPF) is one of the most common dreaded complications of this procedure. The placement of a stent through a
pancreatic anastomosis is one of the proposed surgical techniques to reduce pancreatic fistula incidence. This study
aims to evaluate the utility of external stenting of pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) anastomosis after PD in decreasing the
incidence of POPF and to look for the incidence of stent-related complications. Material and methods: This study was a
prospective non-randomized observational study conducted in the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology at Sher I-
Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences from January 2015 to January 2020. Results: A total of 72 patients were included in
the study. Thirty-five were stented, and 37 had no stent. Mortality was seen in both groups (one death in each group).
The morbidity rate was 32% (12/37) for the non-stent group and 35% (13/35) for the stent group (p=0.741). The overall
incidence of the pancreatic fistula was 6.94% (5/72). 4 patients had grade B fistula, 3 [3/35(8.57%)] in the stent group
and one [1/37(2.7%)] in the non-stent group(p=0277). 1 patient had a grade C fistula from the stent group. The stent
failed to function with no drainage of pancreatic juice in 2 patients (5.7%) and minimal flow(
Key words: Pancreaticoduodenectomy, stenting, POPF
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