Reinforced stapling does not reduce postoperative pancreatic fistula in distal pancreatectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a severe complication after distal pancreatectomy (DP); however, it is unclear how to effectively reduce the incidence. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to determine whether reinforced stapling reduces POPF after DP. From February 2007 to April 2023, a comprehensive search of electronic data and references was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. In this study, the perioperative outcomes were evaluated for the reinforced stapler (RS) group and the standard stapler (SS) group in DP using Review Manager Software. Using fixed- or random-effects models, pooled odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. In total, three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with 425 patients and five observational clinical studies (OCS) with 318 patients were included. In pooled meta-analyses from RCTs, there was no difference between the two groups in the incidence of POPF (OR = 0.79; 95% CI [0.47,1.35]; P = 0.39), intraoperative blood loss (MD = 10.66; 95% CI [− 28.83,50.16]; P = 0.6), operative time (MD = 9.88; 95% CI [− 8.92,28.67]; P = 0.3), major morbidity (OR = 1.12; 95% CI [0.67,1.90]; P = 0.66), reoperation (OR = 0.97; 95% CI [0.41,2.32]; P = 0.95), readmission (OR = 0.99; 95% CI [0.57,1.72]; P = 0.97) or hospital stay (MD = − 0.95; 95% CI [− 5.22,3.31]; P = 0.66). However, the results of POPF and readmission were favorable for RS in the OCS group. There is no difference in postoperative pancreatic fistula between reinforced and standard staplers in distal pancreatectomy. What is known and what is new? Reinforced staples have been shown to reduce postoperative pancreatic fistula in previous meta-analyses and observational clinical trials, but an increasing number of randomized controlled trials have not reached the same conclusion. This meta-analysis revealed that, in contrast to previous meta-analyses, reinforced stapling did nt reduce postoperative pancreatic fistula in distal pancreatectomy. What is the implication, and what should change now? Surgeons need to carefully consider the clinical role of reinforced staplers and find novel approaches to reduce postoperative pancreatic fistula in distal pancreatectomy.