Does autologous fibrin sealant (vivostat^©) reduce the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy? – a matched pairs analysis

Abstract

Background

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is the most common complication following distal pancreatectomy. This retrospective study investigated the effects of autologous fibrin sealant (Vivostat^©) in reducing the incidence of POPF after distal pancreatectomy.

Methods

A matched pairs analysis was performed to compare the incidence of clinically relevant POPF of 41 patients who underwent a distal pancreatectomy with application of autologous fibrin sealant (Vivostat^©) with a historical control group.

Results

Clinically relevant POPF were present in 11 patients in the study group (27%) and in 13 patients in the control group (32%, p = .639). No patient of the study group required emergency angiographic treatment for postoperative hemorrhage due to POPF, whereas three patients were identified in the control group (7%, p = .079).

Conclusions

POPF cannot be prevented under treatment with autologous fibrin sealant (Vivostat^©). We observed the tendency of a lower rate of postoperative pancreatic hemorrhage due to POPF. However, prospective randomized controlled studies are required.

Keywords:

• Distal pancreatectomy
• postoperative pancreatic fistula
• autologous fibrin sealant (Vivostat^©)
• pancreatic surgery

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Theresa Papior for supporting the data acquisition partially.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interests. The authors received no research grant from Vivostat^©.

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.