Effect of modified Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy on nutritional status in elderly patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of modified Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy on the nutritional status in elderly patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS Fifty-eight elderly patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy in our hospital were evenly divided into the traditional group (receiving traditional Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy) and the modified group (receiving modified Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy). RESULTS In the modified group, intraoperative blood loss and 24-h VAS score were lower and time to off-bed activity and postoperative hospital stay were shorter than those in the traditional group (P<0.05). The levels of d-lactic acid, diamine oxidase, and endotoxin were increased after surgery and were higher in the modified group than those in the traditional group, while the digestive symptoms and cancer pain scores at 6 months after surgery and postoperative complication rate were lower than those of the traditional group (all P<0.05). The nursing satisfaction was higher in the modified group than that in the traditional group (P<0.05). The nutritional status, pancreatic endocrine function and pancreatic exocrine function showed no significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION The modified Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy can reduce the pain level, expedite postoperative rehabilitation, and improve the intestinal mucosal barrier function and quality of life of patients while not significantly affecting postoperative nutritional status and pancreatic function.