Regional pancreatoduodenectomy versus standard pancreatoduodenectomy with portal vein resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with portal vein invasion

Technical Strategy for Pancreatic Body Cancers: A Raison d'etre of Distal Pancreatectomy with Portal Resection

BACKGROUND

Advancements in multiagent chemotherapy have expanded the surgical indications for pancreatic cancer. Although pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with portal vein resection (PVR) has become widely adopted, distal pancreatectomy (DP) with PVR remains rarely performed because of its technical complexity. This study was designed to assess the feasibility of DP-PVR compared with PD-PVR for pancreatic body cancers, with a focus on PV complications and providing optimal reconstruction techniques when DP-PVR is necessary.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted on consecutive pancreatic body cancer patients who underwent pancreatectomy with PVR between 2005 and 2020. An algorithm based on the anatomical relationship between the arteries and PV was used for optimal surgical selection.

RESULTS

Among 119 patients, 32 underwent DP-PVR and 87 underwent PD-PVR. Various reconstruction techniques were employed in DP-PVR cases, including patch reconstruction, graft interposition, and wedge resection. The majority of PD-PVR cases involved end-to-end anastomosis. The length of PVR was shorter in DP-PVR (25 vs. 40 mm; p < 0.001). Although Clavien-Dindo ≥3a was higher in DP-PVR (p = 0.002), inpatient mortality and R0 status were similar. Complete PV occlusion occurred more frequently in DP-PVR than in PD-PVR (21.9% vs. 1.1%; p < 0.001). A cutoff value of 30 mm for PVR length was determined to be predictive of nonrecurrence-related PV occlusion after DP-PVR. The two groups did not differ significantly in recurrence or overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

DP-PVR had higher occlusion and postoperative complication rates than PD-PVR. These findings support the proposed algorithm and emphasize the importance of meticulous surgical manipulation when DP-PVR is deemed necessary.

Unique Biology of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Accompanied by Rapidly Impaired Diabetes: A Favorable Long-Term Survival Following Curative Resection

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) are sometimes diagnosed accompanied by rapidly impaired diabetes (PDAC-RID). Although this type of PDAC may have unusual biological features, these features have not been explained.

METHODS

Patients with PDAC who underwent upfront pancreatectomy between 2010 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. PDAC-RID was defined as a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) value of ≥ 8.0% of newly diagnosed diabetes, and acute exacerbation of previously diagnosed diabetes. Other patients were classified as PDAC with stable glycometabolism (PDAC-SG). Clinicopathological factors, long-term survival rates, and recurrence patterns were evaluated.

RESULTS

Of the 520 enrolled patients, 104 were classified as PDAC-RID and 416 as PDAC-SG. There was no significant difference regarding TNM staging, resectability, or adjuvant chemotherapy rate between the groups. However, 5-years cancer-specific survival (CSS) was significantly higher in the PDAC-RID group than in the PDAC-SG group (45.3% vs. 31.1%; p = 0.02). This survival difference was highlighted in relatively early-stage PDAC (≤ pT2N1) (CSS: 60.8% vs. 43.6%; p = 0.01), but the difference was not significant for advanced-stage PDAC. A multivariate analysis of early-stage PDAC showed that PDAC-SG was an independent risk factor of shorter CSS (hazard ratio 1.76; p = 0.02). The hematogenous metastatic rate in early-stage PDAC was lower in the PDAC-RID group than in the PDAC-SG group (18.3% vs. 35.8%; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

PDAC-RID showed a favorable long-term survival rate after curative resection with low hematogenous metastases, which may be due to its unique biology.

Impact of Portal Vein Resection (PVR) in Patients Who Underwent Curative Intended Pancreatic Head Resection

The oncological impact of portal vein resection (PVR) in pancreatic cancer surgery remains contradictory. Different variables might have an impact on the outcome. The aim of the present study is the retrospective assessment of the frequency of PVR, histological confirmation of tumor infiltration, and comparison of oncological outcomes in PVR patients. We retrieved n = 90 patients from a prospectively collected data bank who underwent pancreas surgery between 2012 and 2019 at the University Medical Centre Göttingen (Germany) and showed a histologically confirmed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). While 50 patients (55.6%) underwent pancreatic resection combined with PVR, 40 patients (44.4%) received standard pancreatic surgery. Patients with distal pancreatectomy or a tumor other than PDAC were excluded. PVR was performed either as local excision or circular resection of the portal vein. Clinical/patient data and follow-ups were retrieved. The median follow-up period was 20.5 months. Regarding the oncological outcome, a statistically poorer CSS (p = 0.04) was observed in PVR patients. There was no difference (p = 0.18) in patients' outcomes between tangential and complete PVR, while n = 21 (42% of PVR patients) showed portal vein infiltration. The correlation between performed PVR and resection status was statistically significant: 48.6% of PVR patients achieved R0 resections compared to 75% in non-PVR patients (p = 0.03). Patients who underwent PDAC surgery with PVR show a significantly poorer outcome regardless of PVR type. Tumor size and R-status remain two important variables significantly associated with outcome. Since there is a lack of standardization for the indication of PVR, it remains unknown if the need for resection of vein structures during pancreatic resection represents the biological aggressiveness of the tumor or is biased by the experience of the surgeon.

New approach of circumferential lymph node dissection around the superior mesenteric artery for pancreatic cancer during pancreaticoduodenectomy (with video)

PURPOSE

Various approaches have been reported for the resection of the nervous and lymphatic tissues around the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic cancer. We developed a new procedure for circumferential lymph node dissection around the SMA to minimize local recurrence.

METHODS

We included 24 patients who underwent PD with circumferential lymph node dissection around the SMA (circumferential dissection) and 94 patients who underwent classical mesopancreatic dissection (classical dissection) between 2019 and 2021. The technical details of this new method are described in the figures and videos, and the clinical characteristics and outcomes of this technique were compared with those of classical dissection.

RESULTS

The median follow-up durations in the circumferential and classical dissection groups were 39 and 36 months, respectively. The patients' characteristics, including tumor resectability, preoperative and adjuvant chemotherapy rates, postoperative complication rates, and tumor stage, were similar between the two groups. No differences were observed in recurrence-free survival and overall survival between the two groups; however, the classical dissection group tended to have more local recurrences than the circumferential dissection group (8.3% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.168). Although no case of nodular-type recurrence after circumferential dissection was observed, 61.1% of local recurrences after classical dissection were of the nodular-type, and 36.4% were located on the left side of the SMA.

CONCLUSIONS

Performing circumferential lymph node dissection around the SMA during PD can be conducted safely with minimal risks of local recurrence and may enhance the completeness of local resection.

Intraoperative paraaortic lymph node sampling during resection for pancreatic cancer: evolving role in the modern chemotherapy era

BACKGROUND

The role of paraaortic lymph node (PALN) sampling for pancreatic cancer (PC) remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the yield of PALN sampling and its impact on long-term outcomes.

METHODS

Patients treated from 2005 to 2018 were included. Since 2015, patients with borderline resectable or unresectable (BR/UR) tumours received standardized neoadjuvant therapy (NAT), whereas patients with resectable tumours underwent upfront resection.

RESULTS

Among 771 patients with PALN excision, metastasis was confirmed in 76 patients (10%) and 59 proceeded to planned resection. PALN metastasis was associated with early recurrence and shorter survival after upfront resection (1-year recurrence-free rate: 23% vs 57% for resectable tumours, P < 0.001, 9% vs 52% for BR/UR tumours, P = 0.006; median overall survival (OS): 19 vs 31 months for resectable tumours, P < 0.001, 17 vs 23 months for BR/UR tumours, P = 0.057). In contrast, they were both similar between patients with/without PALN metastasis following NAT for BR tumours (1-year recurrence-free rate, 50% vs 58%, P = 0.88; median OS, 28 vs 35 months, P = 0.45, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Occult metastasis to PALNs is not uncommon in patients with potentially resectable PC. Its prognostic impact depends on the treatment strategy, and the intraoperative decision for resection should be individualized.

"Conversion surgery" for locally advanced pancreatic cancer: A position paper by the study group at the joint meeting of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) & Japan Pancreas Society (JPS) 2022

Locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), which progresses locally and surrounds major vessels, has historically been deemed unresectable. Surgery alone failed to provide curative resection and improve overall survival. With the advancements in treatment, reports have shown favorable results in LAPC after undergoing successful chemotherapy therapy or chemoradiation therapy followed by surgical resection, so-called "conversion surgery", at experienced high-volume centers. However, recognizing significant regional and institutional disparities in the management of LAPC, an international consensus meeting on conversion surgery for LAPC was held during the Joint Congress of the 26th Meeting of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) and the 53rd Annual Meeting of Japan Pancreas Society (JPS) in Kyoto in July 2022. During the meeting, presenters reported the current best multidisciplinary practices for LAPC, including preoperative modalities, best systemic treatment regimens and durations, procedures of conversion surgery with or without vascular resections, biomarkers, and genetic studies. It was unanimously agreed among the experts in this meeting that "cancer biology is surpassing locoregional anatomical resectability" in the era of effective multiagent treatment. The biology of pancreatic cancer has yet to be further elucidated, and we believe it is essential to improve the treatment outcomes of LAPC patients through continued efforts from each institution and more international collaboration. This article summarizes the agreement during the discussion amongst the experts in the meeting. We hope that this will serve as a foundation for future international collaboration and recommendations for future guidelines.

A more radical perspective on surgical approach and outcomes in pancreatic cancer-a narrative review

Background and Objective

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains a dismal disease and is expected to become an even greater burden in the near future. This review focuses on the different surgical aspects for pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), distal and total pancreatectomy (TP), incorporating lessons from both the western and eastern visions in treating pancreatic cancer.

Methods

We conducted an extensive literature review through PubMed, prioritizing papers published in the last 5 years, but older emblematic papers were also included. We included articles that explored the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, with focus on the surgical aspect and strategies to improve outcomes. References of selected articles were also reviewed to identify any missed studies. Only papers in English were included.

Key Content and Findings

As evidence continues to build, it is clear that both systemic and surgical therapies have a fundamental and complementary role. State of art surgical treatment encompasses complete mesopancreas excision for radical lymphadenectomy. Preoperative planning of dissection planes, extensive knowledge of vascular anatomic variations, oncological principles and expertise for vascular resections are mandatory to perform a more radical operation, in pursuit of improved outcomes.

Conclusions

Based on current data, patient selection remains key and a more radical surgical approach brings more accomplishing results bringing as to believe that more is better.

Perioperative and long-term outcome of en-bloc arterial resection in pancreatic surgery

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic tumors are frequently diagnosed in a locally advanced stage with poor prognosis if untreated. This study assesses the safety and oncological outcomes of pancreatic surgery with arterial en-bloc resection.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent a pancreatic resection with arterial resection between 2011 and 2020. Univariable analyses were used to assess prognostic factors for survival.

RESULTS

Forty consecutive patients (22 female; 18 male) undergoing arterial resections were included. Surgical procedures consisted of 19 pancreatoduodenectomies (PD, 48%), 16 distal splenopancreatectomy (DSP, 40%), and 5 total pancreatectomies (TP, 12%). Arterial resection included hepatic arteries (HA, N = 23), coeliac trunk (TC, N = 15) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA, N = 2). Neoadjuvant therapy was applied in 22 patients (58%). Major complications after surgery were observed in 15% of cases. 90-day mortality was 5%. Median disease-free survival and median overall survival were for the R0/CRM- group 22.8 months and 27.9 months, 9.5 and 19.8 months for the R0/CRM+ group, and 10.1 and 13.1 months for the R1 group, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In highly selected patients, arterial en-bloc resection can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity rates and beneficial oncological outcome.

Extent of venous resection during pancreatectomy-finding the balance of technical possibility and feasibility

The improvement of effective multidrug agents has allowed more patients to undergo resection for pancreatic cancer (PC). In the conversion cases of initially unresectable PC after induction chemotherapy, pancreatic surgeons often encounter challenging vein resections cases such as those of long-segment portal vein (PV)/superior mesenteric vein (SMV) encasement or occlusion of the distal (caudal) SMV. Given the lack of consensus for the optimal approach for major vein resections and reconstructions in these situations, this review summarizes the literature on this topic and provides the best currently available approaches for challenging vein reconstruction cases. For long-segment PV/SMV encasement, tips for direct end-to-end anastomosis without grafts and the splenic vein (SpV) reconstruction to prevent left-side portal hypertension will be introduced. For distal SMV encasement, several bypass techniques to deal with collateralizations will be introduced. Even though some high-volume PC centers are obtaining favorable outcomes for challenging vein resection cases, existing evidence on this topic is limited. It is essential to organize the well-designed international multicenter studies for the small population of challenging vein resection cases. With the emergence of effective chemotherapies, the number of PC patients who can undergo curative resection is increasing. Achieving more successful vessel resection and reconstruction in the treatment of PC is a common goal that pancreatic surgeons should focus on together.

Sinistral Portal Hypertension after Pancreaticoduodenectomy with Splenic Vein Resection: Pathogenesis and Its Prevention

To achieve curative resection for pancreatic cancer during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), extensive portal vein (PV) resection, including porto-mesenterico-splenic confluence (PMSC), may sometimes be necessary if the tumor is close to the portal venous system. Recently, this extended resection has been widely accepted in high-volume centers for pancreatic resection due to its favorable outcomes compared with non-operative treatment. However, in patients with long-term survival, sinistral portal hypertension (SPH) occurs as a late-onset postoperative complication. These patients present gastrointestinal varices due to congested venous flow from the spleen, which may cause critical variceal bleeding. Since the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer has improved, owing to the development of chemotherapy and surgical techniques, SPH is no longer a negligible matter in the field of pancreatic cancer surgery. This review clarifies the pathogenesis and frequency of SPH after PD through PMSC resection and discusses its prediction and prevention.

Parachute technique for portal vein reconstruction during pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein resection in patients with pancreatic head cancer

BACKGROUND

The most appropriate venous reconstruction method remains debatable when a long section of portal vein (PV) and/or superior mesenteric vein (SMV) must be resected in patients undergoing a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The aim of the present study was to describe the technical details of the parachute technique, a modified end-to-end anastomotic maneuver that can be used in the above-mentioned circumstances, and to investigate its safety and feasibility.

STUDY DESIGN

Patients who underwent venous reconstruction using the parachute technique after receiving a PD with PV resection for pancreatic cancer between January 2014 and March 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. For the parachute technique, the posterior wall was sutured in a continuous fashion while the stitches were left untightened. The stitches were then tightened from both sides after the running suture of the posterior wall had been completed, thereby dispersing the tension applied to the stitched venous wall when the venous ends were brought together and solving any problems that would otherwise have been caused by over-tension. The postoperative outcomes and PV patency were then investigated.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients were identified. The median length of the resected PV/SMV measured in vivo was 5 cm (range, 3-6 cm). The splenic vein was resected in all the patients and was reconstructed in 13 patients (87%). The overall postoperative complication rate (≥ Clavien-Dindo grade I) was 60%, while a major complication (≥ Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa) occurred in 1 patient (7%). No postoperative deaths occurred in this series. The PV patency at 1 year was 87%.

CONCLUSION

The parachute technique is both safe and feasible and is a simple venous reconstruction procedure suitable for use in cases undergoing PD when the distance between the resected PV and SMV is relatively long.

Preoperative Decision to Perform Portal Vein Resection Improves Survival in Patients With Resectable Pancreatic Head Cancer Adjacent to Portal Vein

Objective

We hypothesized that preoperatively planned portal vein resection (PVR), which prevents from approaching tumors, improves survival in patients with resectable pancreatic head cancer adjacent to the portal vein (PhC-PV).

Summary

The decision to perform PVR is difficult in patients with resectable PhC-PV.

Methods

This is a retrospective, bi-institutional study of patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for resectable PhC-PV from 2009 to 2018. We compared clinical data of patients who underwent PD with preoperatively planned PVR (planned PVR group) and those who underwent conventional PD (cPD) in which decision to perform PVR was made intraoperatively (cPD group).

Results

Among the study population of 176 patients, 53 patients (30.1%) underwent PD with planned PVR. The remaining 123 patients (69.9%) underwent cPD. Tumor characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Operation time and major complication rates did not differ between the 2 groups. The local recurrence rate of patients in the planned PVR group (28.3%) was lower than that of the cPD group (44.7%; P = 0.041). Median overall survival (OS) was longer in the planned PVR group than in the cPD group (32 vs 27 months; P = 0.011). Multivariate analysis revealed that having undergone planned PVR was an independent factor for favorable OS (hazard ratio = 1.65; 95% confidence interval = 1.08-2.61; P = 0.021).

Conclusions

The preoperative decision to perform PVR improves survival by enhancing local control of resectable PhC-PV.

Radical Resection for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancers in the Era of New Neoadjuvant Therapy-Arterial Resection, Arterial Divestment and Total Pancreatectomy

Simple Summary

Aggressive arterial resection or total pancreatectomy in surgical treatment for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) has gradually been encouraged thanks to new chemotherapy regimens such as FOLFIRINOX or Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, which have provided more adequate patient selection and local tumor suppression, justifying aggressive local resection. The development of surgical techniques provides the safety of arterial resection (AR) for even major visceral arteries, such as the celiac axis or superior mesenteric artery. Total pancreatectomy has been re-evaluated as an effective option to balance both the local control and postoperative safety. In this review, we investigate the recent reports focusing on arterial resection and total pancreatectomy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and discuss the rationale of such an aggressive approach in the treatment of PC.

Abstract

Aggressive arterial resection (AR) or total pancreatectomy (TP) in surgical treatment for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) had long been discouraged because of their high mortality rate and unsatisfactory long-term outcomes. Recently, new chemotherapy regimens such as FOLFIRINOX or Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel have provided more adequate patient selection and local tumor suppression, justifying aggressive local resection. In this review, we investigate the recent reports focusing on arterial resection and total pancreatectomy for LAPC and discuss the rationale of such an aggressive approach in the treatment of PC. AR for LAPCs is divided into three, according to the target vessel. The hepatic artery resection is the simplest one, and the reconstruction methods comprise end-to-end, graft or transposition, and no reconstruction. Celiac axis resection is mainly done with distal pancreatectomy, which allows collateral arterial supply to the liver via the pancreas head. Resection of the superior mesenteric artery is increasingly reported, though its rationale is still controversial. Total pancreatectomy has been re-evaluated as an effective option to balance both the local control and postoperative safety. In conclusion, more and more aggressive pancreatectomy has become justified by the principle of total neoadjuvant therapy. Further technical standardization and optimal neoadjuvant strategy are mandatory for the global dissemination of aggressive pancreatectomies.

Essential updates 2019/2020: Multimodal treatment of localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Current topics and updates in survival outcomes and prognostic factors

Overall survival of patients with localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is extremely poor. Therefore, the establishment of multimodal treatment strategies is indispensable for PDAC patients because surgical treatment alone could not contribute to the improvement of survival. In this review article, we focus on the current topics and advancement of the treatments for localized PDAC including resectable, borderline resectable, and locally advanced PDAC in accordance with the articles mainly published from 2019 to 2020. Reviewing the articles, the recent progress of multimodal treatments notably improves the prognosis of patients with localized PDAC. For resectable PDAC, neoadjuvant chemo or chemoradiation therapy, rather than upfront surgery, plays a key role, especially in patients with a large tumor, poor performance status, high tumor marker levels, peripancreatic lymph nodes metastasis, or neural invasion suspected on preoperative imaging. For borderline resectable PDAC, neoadjuvant treatments followed by surgery is a desirable approach, and maintenance of immunonutritional status during the treatments are also important. For locally advanced disease, conversion surgery has a central role in improving a survival outcome; however, its indication should be standardized.