HPB SO28 - Pre-operative Biliary Drainage in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma and its Effect on Surgical Oncological Outcomes

Abstract Background Pre-operative biliary drainage (PBD) in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been associated with a significantly increased risk of serious complications. This retrospective study investigated if PBD has a significant effect on lymphovascular (LVI) or perineural (PNI) invasion compared to direct surgery (DS). Method Data was collected retrospectively from patients undergoing PD for PDAC from 01/01/2014 to 30/12/2022. Patients were grouped according to whether they received any form of PBD or not. Patients’ T and N stage, as well as lymph node ratio (LNR), R status, Mortality, disease free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were recorded. The primary outcome measure was lymph node ratio. Results A total of 87 patients were identified (48 PBD group vs 39 DS group), with a mean age of 68. The median LNR was 0.2 in PBD vs 0.21 in DS Group (p=0.87). There was no significant difference in median DFS (310 days PBD vs 285 DS p=0.94) or median OS (513 days PBD vs 515 DS p=0.39). PBD was not associated with a greater incidence of LVI (67% PBD vs 69% DS p=0.8), or PNI (94% PBD vs 97% p=0.41). PBD did not have a significant effect on resection margin status (p=0.75). Conclusion Despite evidence in the literature on its effects on the rate of complications, PBD has not been shown to have an effect on LVI or PNI, disease progression, nor overall survival in our patient group.