Is Roux Loop a Solution to Delayed Gastric Emptying Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy? A Single Institute Analysis

Delayed gastric emptying is one of the most common complications of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). It almost always results in delayed oral intake, prolonged hospital stays, and a delay in initiation of vital adjuvant treatment. A few earlier studies suggested that delayed gastric emptying (DGE) rates were better with the Roux-en Y reconstruction, but Indian literature regarding this is lacking. In our institutional study, we compared the traditional single-loop reconstruction (SL group), with the Roux loop reconstruction (RY group) following a subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (SSPPD). A retrospective comparative study was conducted between the conventional single loop and a Roux-en-Y method of reconstruction following a subtotal stomach preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (SSPPD). Sixty-three consecutive Whipple’s procedures were analyzed for multiple clinical parameters like removal of Ryles tube, tolerance of liquid diet and solid diet, delayed gastric emptying, duration of hospital stay and interval between surgery, and initiation of adjuvant treatment. Forty-one patients in the SL group were compared with 22 patients in the RY group. Ryles tube removal (POD 8.2 versus 2.25, p