Degisors S, Caiazzo R, Dokmak S, et al. - Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) occurs as a post-procedural complication in around 10% of patients who undergo elective distal pancreatectomy (DP). A reduction in the incidence of DGE can be ensured by encouraging laparoscopic approach and prevention of POPF.

• This study included 311 elective DP cases without additional organ or vascular resection (2012–2017).

• Overall 10.0% (n=31) of patients developed DGE (grade A = 21, grade B = 7, grade C = 3) with a median hospital stay of 16 (13–22) days vs 10 (7–14) without DGE.

• Multivariate analysis revealed age>75 years (OR = 4.32), open approach (OR = 2.97) and POPF grade B–C (OR = 2.54) as predisposing factors of DGE.

• An overall 8.1% DGE incidence in 876 patients (7 series) was revealed via the systematic review.