OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect on postoperative delayed gastric emptying (DGE) after laparoscopic versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

METHODSData from 67 consecutive PD procedures performed between October 2010 and October 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 20 patients underwent laparoscopic PD (LPD group), and 47 patients underwent open PD (OPD group; 22 patients underwent pylorus-preserving PD, 25 patients underwent standard PD).

RESULTSThe LPD group had significantly longer operative times ((494 ± 46) minutes vs. (391 ± 70) minutes, t = -4.40, P = 0.000), reduced blood loss ((294 ± 158) ml. vs. (399 ± 68) ml, t = 2.73, P = 0.008) and shorter postoperative hospital stay (13.0 days vs. 16.3 days, t = 3.01, P = 0.009) compared to the OPD group. However, there was no difference in terms of DGE occurrence and postoperative complication rates. There was one postoperative death in the OPD group and none in the LPD group. Multivariate analysis by Logistic regression showed that DGE was significantly more frequent among patients with longer operative times (OR = 1.01, 95%CI: 1.000 - 1.024, P = 0.048), increased intraoperative blood loss (OR = 1.01, 95%CI: 1.000 - 1.022, P = 0.040) and postoperative intraabdominal complications (OR = 6.22, 95%CI: 1.400 - 27.700, P = 0.017). Mean postoperative hospital stay was longer among patients who developed DGE (19.7 days vs. 13.6 days, t = -6.50, P = 0.000) than those without DGE.

CONCLUSIONSLonger operative time, increased intraoperative blood loss and postoperative intraabdominal complications appear to be risk factors for DGE development. Meanwhile, the laparoscopic approach PD is safe and feasible, and outcomes appears comparable with those undergoing an open approach.