Completion pancreatectomy in the acute management of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a systematic review and qualitative synthesis of the literature.

Abstract

Pancreatic fistula remains a major complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Re-operation is generally considered only after exhaustion of non-surgical options. A variety of pancreas-preserving operations have been proposed, but completion pancreatectomy (CP) stands out in locally complicated cases as a universal approach. This study aims to provide a qualitative synthesis of the peer-reviewed literature regarding emergency CP for post-PD pancreatic fistula.