Objective To investigate the influence of bundled ligation of the pancreatic stump on postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) of distal pancreatectomy (DP).

Methods The retrospective case‑control study was conducted. The clinical data of 60 patients with diseases in pancreatic body and tail who underwent DP in the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from January 2011 to August 2018 were collected. There were 24 males and 36 females, aged from 19 to 68 years, with a median age of 45 years. Of the 60 patients, 36 cases undergoing dissection of pancreas with Endo‑GIA stapler were allocated into non‑bundled group, and 24 cases undergoing bundled ligation of the pancreatic stump with No.10 or No.7 suture at the site over 1 cm of the resection site before dissection of pancreas were allocated into bundled group. Observation indicators: (1) postoperative situations; (2) analysis of risk factors for POPF of DP. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the t test or ANOVA test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M (range).Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi‑square test. Univariate analysis was conducted using the chi‑square test and multivariate analysis was conducted using the Logistic regression model.

Results (1) Postoperative situations: the amylase concentration, cases with biochemical fistula, cases with grade B pancreatic fistula, cases with complications, time to extubation, duration of postoperative hospital stay, total hospital expenses were (2 629±592)U/L, 14, 5, 7, (11.9±0.7)days, (13.6±0.7)days, (49 430±1 626)yuan in non‑bundled group and (683±312)U/L, 3, 1, 2, (9.7±0.6)days, (11.3±0.5)days, (44 767±1 163)yuan in bundled group, respectively. There were significant differences in the amylase concentration, cases with biochemical fistula, time to extubation, duration of hospital stay, total hospital expenses between the two groups (t=2.528, χ²=1.512, t=2.341, 2.311, 2.111, P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the cases with grade B pancreatic fistula or cases with complications between the two groups (χ²=1.512, 1.394, P>0.05). (2) Analysis of risk factors for POPF of DP. Results of univariate analysis showed that tumor diameter and bundled ligation of the pancreatic stump were related factors of patients undergoing pancreatic fistula after DP (χ²=4.462, 5.061, P<0.05). Results of multivariate analysis showed that bundled ligation of the pancreatic stump was an independent influencing factor of patients undergoing pancreatic fistula after DP (odds ratio=0.187, 95% confidence interval as 0.037-0.954, P<0.05).

Conclusions Bundled ligation of the pancreatic stump was an independent influencing factor of patients undergoing pancreatic fistula after DP. Bundled ligation of the pancreatic stump can effectively reduce the incidence of POPF, especially biochemical fistula, the time to extubation, duration of postoperative hospital stay and total hospital expenses, and promote patient recovery after DP.