Analysis of Symptomatic Marginal Ulcers in Patients Who Underwent Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Periampullary Tumors

Object The objectives are to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with symptomatic marginal ulcer (sMU) and analyze their relationship with the use of prophylactic proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods Clinical postoperative outcomes of 72 sMU and 1266 non-sMU were compared and analyzed. We performed a subanalysis of 72 patients with sMU diagnosed within (n = 18) and after 4 months (n = 54). The risk factors associated with sMU incidence were analyzed. Results Of the 1338 patients, 72 (5.4%) were diagnosed as having sMU. Eighteen patients (25.0%) were diagnosed during the first 4 months, and 48 (66.7%), within 16 months. Cumulative sMU incidence differed according to the duration of prophylactic PPI use (≥4 months: 7.1% vs <4 months: 10.1%, P < 0.001). The duration of prophylactic PPI use was identified as a risk factor in the multivariable analysis (hazard ratio, 2.294; 95% confidence interval, 1.436–3.664; P = 0.001). Conclusions Two-thirds or more of the patients were diagnosed as having sMU within 16 months after surgery. The duration of the prophylactic PPI use was an independent risk factor. We recommend the use of prophylactic PPI for more than 16 months after pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary tumors.