Use of Hemopatch as a Sealant at the Pancreaticojejunostomy After Pancreatoduodenectomy to Prevent Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is the most common surgical procedure to treat pancreatic tumors in the head of the pancreas and periampullary region, as well as benign processes such as chronic pancreatitis. Recent advances in surgical techniques and perioperative treatments have reduced perioperative mortality below 10% in high volume centers. However, PD is associated with considerable morbidity (40-58.5%) like postoperative pancreatic fistula, delayed gastric emptying, biliary fistula, postoperative hemorrhage, and pulmonary complications.

Several surgical techniques and perioperative care have been described to prevent or reduce the incidence of pancreatic fistula after PD, including reconstruction of the digestive tract with pancreaticogastrostomy, duc-to-mucosa reconstruction or pancreaticojejunostomy by intussusception, use of somatostatin and prophylactic analogues, the use of stents in the main pancreatic duct, and use of different sealants.

Although perioperative morbidity and mortality associated with PD have improved significantly over the years, even in high-volume centers, the incidence of postoperative fistula remains at 9.9-28.5%. Therefore, the ideal pancreatic reconstruction technique that prevents fistula is not yet available.

The use of sealants has been one of the approaches taken to try to reduce the rate of fistulas. Some uncontrolled or non-randomized studies have shown that the use of fibrin glue-based adhesives in combinations with felting patches can lead to a B / C grade fistula rate of 0-10%. Only 2 randomized clinical trials have been performed with fibrin glue, with opposite results in terms of significant reduction of pancreatic fistula.

Hemopatch is a patch consisting of a soft, thin and flexible pad of collagen derived from the bovine dermis, coated with NHS-PEG (pentaerythritol polyethylene glycol ether tetra-succinimidyl glutarate). It is intended to be a surgical sealant for procedures in which control of leakage by conventional surgical techniques is ineffective or impractical, making it a plausible option to use during PD in order to decrease postoperative pancreatic fistula.