Effects of preoperative long-term glycemic control on operative outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy

Background

Diabetes mellitus is postulated to be both a risk factor and manifestation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This study evaluated the effects of preoperative glycemic control as determined by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) on outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods

A prospective cohort study whereby HbA1c was assessed preoperatively in 243 patients undergoing PD was performed. The primary outcome measure was operative morbidity. Secondary outcomes included individual adverse events, time to dietary resumption, and length of stay.

Results

Preoperative HbA1c ranged from 4.0% to 13.5%. Overall morbidity and incidence of specific adverse events were similar regardless of preoperative HbA1c. No correlation between HbA1c and length of stay, dietary resumption, or readmission was observed. Pancreatic fistula formation had a decreased incidence in patients with elevated versus normal HbA1c (2.2% vs 9.6%, P = .083).

Conclusions

PD can be safely performed in patients with HbA1c levels suggestive of poor long-term preoperative glycemic control. Medical efforts to optimize HbA1c should not delay resection.     

Laparoscopy assisted transjejunal endoscopic retrograde cholangiography for treatment of intrahepatic duct stones in a post Roux-en-Y patient

We report a case of a 17-year-old female patient, who was operated on for choledocal cyst with Roux-en Y hepatojejunostomy. She was admitted to hospital with recurrent attacks of acute ascending cholangitis due to left intrahepatic duct stones. After a failed attempt at conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography through the anatomical route, she was treated successfully with laparoscopy assisted transjejunal endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.Endoscopic access to the biliary system can be difficult in patients with surgically altered anatomy of the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT), such as Roux-en-Y reconstruction, because of the changed anatomy. However, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is challenging in cases such as our patient;1,2 this is due to the distance needed to be traversed and looping. Our objective in presenting this particular case is to describe and highlight a laparoscopy assisted transjejunal ERCP to permit successful treatment and removal of intrahepatic duct stones in a post Roux-en-Y patient, and to minimize surgical inetervention to reduce unnecessary risks to the patient.