Single-loop versus double-loop reconstruction after pancreatoduodenectomy: Does it impact on the risk of postoperative pancreatic fistula?

Backgrounds/aims: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains a significant complication following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). It has been hypothesized that single loop (SL) reconstruction may increase the risk of POPF, leading to the proposal of double-loop (DL) reconstruction. In this approach, the pancreatic duct is connected to an isolated loop of bowel in a Roux-en-Y configuration. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study to compare various types of reconstruction after PD, analyzing data from 1,502 patients who underwent open, laparoscopic, or robotic PD across 28 centers worldwide. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to enhance comparability. Results: The overall rate of POPF was 34.89%, with a grade C POPF rate of 4.26%. The type of reconstruction (SL vs. DL) did not significantly impact the rates of POPF or grade C POPF, both before and after PSM. The rate of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) was 20.71%, and patients with DL reconstruction had a lower incidence of DGE both before and after PSM. Conclusions: Our study found no significant differences in the risk of POPF between SL and DL reconstruction. However, DL reconstruction is associated with a reduced risk of DGE, suggesting it may be a preferable option following open PD.