Total pancreatectomy as alternative to pancreatico-jejunal anastomosis in patients with high fistula risk score: the choice of the fearful or of the wise?

Purpose Patients with fistula risk score (FRS) >= 7 are at the highest risk of developing clinically relevant post-operative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF). There is no agreement on the management of this subpopulation. The primary outcome of the study was the definition of the role of intraoperative completion pancreatectomy (ICP) in patients at high risk for CR-POPF, as an alternative to high-risk pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Methods This is an observational study set in a single tertiary referral center. Patients scheduled for PD in our center between 2010 and 2019 with FRS >= 7 were included in the study. Data were prospectively collected. Results A total of 738 patients were scheduled for between 2010 and 2019, and 62 had FRS >= 7. Thirty-five patients were managed with PD and pancreatico-jejunal anastomosis (group A), and 27 with ICP (group B). Overall complication rate was significantly higher in group A than group B (95 versus 59%; p=0.005) and there was a not significantly higher rate of major complications (Clavien-Dindo >= 3) (43 versus 26%; p=0.192). In group A, 49% of patients had a CR-POPF. Median post-operative length of stay was 15 days in group A and 12 in group B (p=0.043). Readmission was observed only in group A (26%). In multivariate analysis, PD was an independent predictive factor of major post-operative morbidity (RR 9.27; CI 1.74-49.31). No patients in either group suffered major adverse events related to endocrine and exocrine insufficiency. Conclusion In high-FRS patients, ICP has good short-term outcomes relative to PD without major long-term events related to endocrine and exocrine insufficiency. ICP could be considered as a feasible alternative in selected cases.