Fat absorption after pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy reconstructed with Billroth II pancreaticojejunostomy or Billroth I pancreaticogastrostomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine whether Billroth I pancreaticogastrostomy (PG-I) or Billroth II pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ-II) after pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy is associated with better postoperative fat absorption, based on residual pancreatic exocrine function. Several reconstructive operations have been employed after pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy to maximize postoperative nutrition. However, no single-institution study has been published comparing the reconstructive procedures with respect to digestion and absorption of fat. METHODOLOGY: Fat absorption was studied using the ¹³C-trioctanoin breath test in patients who were grouped according to the degree of fibrosis of the pancreatic remnant, which was determined by histologic examination of the resection specimen. The fibrosis was graded: grade 0, < 10% fibrosis; grade 1, 10-30% fibrosis; and grade 2, > 30% fibrosis. There were 22 patients in the PG-I group and 22 patients in the PJ-II group. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the PG-I and PJ-II groups in the cumulative excretion of labeled carbon dioxide in the patients with grade 0 pancreatic fibrosis. The cumulative excretion in the PG-I group was better than in the PJ-II group in the patients with grade 1 and grade 2 pancreatic fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Fat absorption after PG-I is superior to that after PJ-II in patients with disordered exocrine function of the pancreatic remnant. Billroth I pancreaticogastrostomy allows more effective utilization of the exocrine enzymes of the pancreatic remnant due to elimination of the blind loop characteristic of the Billroth II pancreaticojejunostomy.