Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy reduces incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula in soft pancreas with a smaller than 2 mm pancreatic duct

Artisential®-assisted pancreatoduodenectomy: a comparative analysis with Robot(Da Vinci®)-assisted pancreatoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (R-PD) helps further improve the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, it faces challenges such as high costs and limitations in availability at different centers, making it difficult for patients to access. In this study, we evaluate the initial experience of Artisential®-assisted PD (A-PD) and compare its perioperative outcomes with R-PD, discussing the clinical applicability of A-PD.

METHODS

This study reviewed cases of R-PD and A-PD conducted between 2022 and 2023. A total of 34 patients underwent R-PD, while 26 patients underwent A-PD. Statistical analysis was conducted based on factors related to the patient's surgical procedure and postoperative prognostic indicators.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences observed between the two groups in terms of surgical factors. There were also no differences in the occurrence of postoperative complications. However, there was a significant difference in the length of hospital stay, with the Artisential® group having an average of 11.50 ± 5.54 days and the Robot group having 15.06 ± 5.34 days (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

R-PD and A-PD showed no differences in procedures or outcomes. Using a multi-articulated device is beneficial where robot use is challenging.

Efficacy of the two-parts wrapping technique in reducing postoperative complications in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

The advancement of laparoscopic technology has broadened the application of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) for treating pancreatic head and ampullary tumors. Despite its benefits, postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) remain significant complications. Ligamentum teres hepatis wrapping around the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) stump show limitations in reducing POPF and PPH.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing LPD from January 2016 to October 2023, We compared the effectiveness of the two-parts wrapping (the ligamentum teres hepatis wrapping of the gastroduodenal artery stump and the omentum flap wrapping of the pancreatojejunal anastomosis) and ligamentum teres hepatis wrapping around the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) in reducing postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH), using propensity score matching for the analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 172 patients were analyzed, showing that the two-parts wrapping group significantly reduced the rates of overall and severe complications, POPF, and PPH compared to ligamentum teres hepatis wrapping around the GDA group. Specifically, the study found lower rates of grade B/C POPF and no instances of PPH in the two-parts wrapping group, alongside shorter postoperative hospital stays and drainage removal times. These benefits were particularly notable in patients with soft pancreatic textures and pancreatic duct diameters of < 3 mm.

CONCLUSION

The two-parts wrapping technique significantly reduce the risks of POPF and PPH in LPD, offering a promising approach for patients with soft pancreas and pancreatic duct diameter of < 3 mm.

Application of single-layer continuous duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy with two figure-of-eight sutures in total laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy

INTRODUCTION

To investigate the application potential of single-layer continuous duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy with two figure-of-eight sutures ("1 + 2" PJ) in total laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (TLPD). Explore the advantages of "1 + 2" PJ over the traditional double-layer interrupted duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy (traditional PJ).

METHODS

We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 184 patients who were admitted in our department from Oct 2019 to Oct 2022, including 95 cases who underwent TLPD with "1 + 2" PJ and 89 cases who underwent TLPD with traditional PJ. The pre/intra/postoperation data were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

The "1 + 2" PJ procedures were successfully performed in all the 95 cases. When compared with the traditional PJ group, there were no statistically significant variations between the pre-operative and pathological data. However, the "1 + 2" PJ group had a shorter operation time (235 (210, 300) minutes vs. 310 (270, 360) minutes in the traditional PJ group, P < 0.001), shorter pancreaticojejunostomy time (15 (10, 20) minutes vs. 50 (45, 55) minutes in the traditional PJ group, P < 0.001), lower pancreatic fistula (both grade B/C) rate (4.21% vs. 12.34% in the traditional group, P = 0.044), and abdominal infection rate (2.11% vs. 8.99% in the traditional group, P = 0.044), as well as reduced hospital stay (11 (9, 15) days vs. 13 (11, 15) days in the traditional PJ group, P = 0.013). In the "1 + 2" PJ group, the median diameter of the pancreatic duct was 3 (3, 4) mm; 82 cases (86.31%) had a normal pancreatic texture, while nine (9.47%) cases had a hard texture, and seven (7.37%) cases had a soft texture; the median intraoperative blood loss was 200 (100, 400) mL and 19 cases (20.00%) needed intraoperative transfusion; eight cases (8.4%) developed postoperative complications, including four cases (4.2%) of pancreatic fistula (including both grade B/C), one case (1.1%) of bile leakage, three cases (3.2%) of delayed gastric emptying, three cases (3.2%) of postoperative hemorrhage, two cases (2.1%) of abdominal infection, and one case (1.1%) of reoperation; the median hospital stay was 13 (8, 17) days; 25 cases were pathologically classified as pancreatic cancer, 35 cases as bile duct cancer, 23 cases as duodenal cancer, and 12 cases as ampullary cancer.

CONCLUSION

Single-layer continuous duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy with two figure-of-eight sutures is a feasible and safe procedure that can be applied in TLPD.

Postoperative pancreatitis and pancreatic fistulae: a review of current evidence

OBJECTIVES

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) represents one of the most severe complications following pancreatic surgery. Despite being a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, its pathophysiology is poorly understood. In recent years, there has been growing evidence to support the role of postoperative or post-pancreatectomy acute pancreatitis (PPAP) in the development of POPF. This article reviews the contemporary literature on POPF pathophysiology, risk factors, and prevention strategies.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted using electronic databases, including Ovid Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, to retrieve relevant literature published between 2005 and 2023. A narrative review was planned from the outset.

RESULTS

A total of 104 studies fulfilled criteria for inclusion. Forty-three studies reported on technical factors predisposing to POPF, including resection and reconstruction technique and adjuncts for anastomotic reinforcement. Thirty-four studies reported on POPF pathophysiology. There is compelling evidence to suggest that PPAP plays a critical role in the development of POPF. The acinar component of the remnant pancreas should be regarded as an intrinsic risk factor; meanwhile, operative stress, remnant hypoperfusion, and inflammation represent common mechanisms for acinar cell injury.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence base for PPAP and POPF is evolving. Future POPF prevention strategies should look beyond anastomotic reinforcement and target underlying mechanisms of PPAP development.

Application of a sectional U-shaped reinforcement combined with penetrating pancreaticojejunostomy (U-PPJ) for soft pancreas in laparoscopic pancreatic surgery

Laparoscopic techniques have been widely used in pancreatic surgery, such as laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) and laparoscopic central pancreatectomy (LCP). Laparoscopic pancreaticojejunostomy (LPJ) is a common procedure for LPD and LCP, and is also the most critical. The quality of LPJ is associated with the occurrence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF). Although LPJ technology has been greatly improved, CR-POPF cannot be completely avoided especially to soft pancreas, which is an important reason for the high risk of laparoscopic pancreatic surgery. To date, there is a lack of standard LPJ approaches. Here, we report a U-shaped suture reinforcement for soft pancreatic section combined with penetrating pancreaticojejunostomy (PPJ) technique, called U-PPJ. Twenty-three patients with soft pancreas who underwent laparoscopic pancreatic surgery adopting U-PPJ method between 2017 and 2022 were enrolled (LPD = 19, LCP = 4). Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative indexes were collected and analyzed. The results showed that all patients treated with U-PPJ were discharged without drainage tube or a small amount of exudate in the drainage tube does not require clinical treatment, but only needs to be removed after 2 days of observation. The average operation time was 417.35 min. The intraoperative blood loss was 171.74 ml. The pancreatic duct diameter was 3.41 mm. The average postoperative hospitalization days were 11.83 days. The average postoperative drainage tube removal time was 13.26 days. The incidence of postoperative B-grade pancreatic fistula was 4.3%, and no C-grade pancreatic fistula occurred. In our experience, U-PPJ can be completed by a skilled surgeon in less than 20 min. U-PPJ is safe, reliable, convenient and has a low incidence of CR-POPF in soft pancreas, which is worthy of clinical application. It also provides more options for laparoscopic pancreatic surgery. Since this is a retrospective study with a small number of cases, more prospective multicenter studies are needed to further verify its safety and efficacy.

Clinical impact of lactate on postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A single-center retrospective study of 1,043 patients

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Several hemodynamic markers have been studied to predict postoperative complication which is a risk factor for poor quality of life and prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether postoperative lactate clearance could affect clinical outcome based on complications in one surgical patient group.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed data from all patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) at Samsung Medical Center from January 2015 to December 2019. Differences in baseline characteristics of patients, intraoperative outcome, and postoperative outcome were evaluated according to the presence or absence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF).

RESULTS

Among a total of 1107 patients, 1043 patients were tested for arterial lactate levels immediately after surgery, and the day after surgery. Immediately postoperative hyperlactatemia (lactate ≥2.0 mmol/L) was not related to CR-POPF (P = 0.269). However, immediately postoperative hyperlactatemia with a negative lactic clearance on postoperative day (POD) 1 was related to CR-POPF (P = 0.003). In multivariate analyses, non-pancreatic cancer (hazard ratio (HR): 2.545, P < 0.001), soft pancreatic texture (HR: 1.884, P < 0.001), and postoperative hyperlactatemia with negative lactate clearance on POD 1 (HR: 1.805, P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for CR-POPF.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperlactatemia with negative lactate clearance after PD, one of the high-risk surgeries requiring postoperative ICU care, is a risk factor for CR-POPF. In case of immediately postoperative hyperlactatemia after PD, lactate clearance with serial lactate level follow-up can be used for achieving the hemodynamic goal to prevent CR-POPF.

Application of Clavien-Dindo classfication-grade in evaluating overall efficacy of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy

Background

The Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) has been widely accepted and applied in clinical practice. We investigated its effectiveness in prediction of major complications (LPPC) after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) and associated risk factors.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted covering clinical data of 793 patients undergoing LPD from April 2015 to November 2021. CDC was utilized to grade postoperative complications and analyze the differences. Risk factors of LPPC were identified according to univariate and multivariate analyses.

Resluts

For the 793 patients undergoing laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy in the northeast of China, LPPC was reported in 260 (32.8%) patients, pancreatic fistula in 169 (21.3%), biliary fistula in 44 (5.5%), delayed gastric emptying in 17(2.1%), post pancreatectomy hemorrhage in 55 (6.9%), intestinal fistula in 7 (0.8%), abdominal infections in 59 (7.4%) and pulmonary complication in 28 (3.5%). All complications were classified into five levels with the C-D classification (Grade I-V), with 83 (31.9%) patients as grade I, 91 (35.0%) as grade II, 38 (14.6%) as grade IIIa, 24 (9.2%) as grade IIIb, 9 (3.5%) as grade IV and 15 (5.8%) as grade V. 86 (10.8%) patients experienced major complications (grade III-V).The results of univariate and multivariate analysis revealed the independent risk factors for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy complications to be preoperative total bilirubin (P = 0.029, OR = 1.523), soft pancreas texture (P < 0.001, OR = 1.399), male (P = 0.038, OR = 1.396) and intraoperative transfusion (P = 0.033, OR = 1.517). Preoperative total bilirubin (P = 0.036, OR = 1.906) and intraoperative transfusions (P = 0.004, OR = 2.123) were independently associated with major postoperative complications. The influence of different bilirubin levels on C-D grade of complications was statistically significant (P = 0.036, OR = 1.906).

Conclusions

The Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) may serve as a valid tool to predict major postoperative complications and contribute to perioperative management and comparison of surgical techniques in different medical centers.

Significant positive impact of duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection on the prevention of postoperative nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and acute cholangitis

Aim

This study aimed to compare the incidence of postoperative nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), postoperative cholangitis, and fibrosis-4 (FIB)-4 index in patients who underwent duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for low-grade malignant tumors and verify the usefulness of DPPHR in preventing the occurrence of these disorders.

Methods

This retrospective study included 70 patients who underwent PD (n = 39) and DPPHR (n = 31) between 2006 and 2018 for benign or low-grade malignant tumors. The present study compared the preoperative background, cumulative incidence of postoperative NAFLD and cholangitis, and other biochemical markers, including the FIB-4 index. Subanalysis by propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was conducted to minimize treatment selection bias.

Results

In terms of the cumulative incidence of NAFLD, the 5-y incidence was significantly lower in the DPPHR group than in the PD group both before (10% vs 38%, P = .002) and after (13% vs 38%, P = .008) matching. Multivariate analyses identified DPPHR as the only independent preventive factor for postoperative NAFLD (hazard ratio: 0.160, 95% confidence intervals: 0.034-0.76, P = .021). The 5-y cumulative incidence of postoperative cholangitis was significantly higher in the PD group than in the DPPHR group before (51% vs 3%, P < .001) and after (49% vs 4%, P < .001) matching. The FIB-4 index at 12 mo postoperatively was significantly better in the DPPHR group than in the PD group (1.45 vs 2.35, P = .006) before matching.

Conclusion

Preservation of the duodenum and bile duct may contribute to preventing long-term postoperative NAFLD and cholangitis, and liver fibrosis for benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic head tumors.

Which one is better? Laparoscopic versus robotic reconstruction in the remnant soft pancreas with a small pancreatic duct following pancreaticoduodenectomy: a multicenter study with propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

Evidence of the advantages of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) over laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) is limited. Thus, this study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic reconstruction L-recon) versus robotic reconstruction (R-recon) in patients with soft pancreas and small pancreatic duct.

METHOD

Among 429 patients treated with minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) between October 2012 and June 2020 by three surgeons at three institutions, 201 patients with a soft pancreas and a small pancreatic duct (< 3 mm) were included in this study.

RESULTS

Sixty pairs of patients who underwent L-recon and R-recon were selected after propensity score matching. The perioperative outcomes were comparable between the reconstruction approaches, with comparable clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) rates (15.0% [L-recon] vs. 13.3% [R-recon]). The sub-analysis according to the type of MIPD procedure also showed comparable outcomes, but only a significant difference in postoperative hospital stay was identified. During the learning curve analysis using the cumulative summation by operation time (CUSUM_OT), two surgeons who performed both L-recon and R-recon procedures reached their first peak in the CUSUM_OT graph earlier for the R-recon group than for the L-recon group (i.e., 20th L-recon case and third R-recon case of surgeon A and 43rd L-recon case and seventh R-recon case of surgeon B). Surgeon C, who only performed R-recon, demonstrated the first peak in the 22nd case. The multivariate regression analysis for risk factors of CR-POPF showed that the MIPD procedure type, as well as other factors, did not have any significant effect.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative pancreatic fistula rates and the overall perioperative outcomes of L-recon and R-recon were comparable in patients with soft-textured pancreas and small pancreatic duct treated by experienced surgeons.

Feasibility of robotic-assisted pancreatic resection in patients with previous minor abdominal surgeries: a single-center experience of the first three years

BACKGROUND

Robotic-assisted pancreatic surgery is limited to specialized high-volume centers and selected patient cohorts. Especially for patients with a history of previous abdominal surgeries, the standard procedure remains open surgery due to the fear of complications caused by abdominal adhesions.

METHODS

Clinical data of all consecutive patients undergoing robotic-assisted pancreatic surgery using the daVinci Xi system (Intuitive Surgical) at our center (Department of Surgery, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany) were collected prospectively and further analyzed from October 2017 to October 2020. Prior abdominal surgeries were specified according to the surgical approach and localization. In univariate and multivariate analysis, baseline and perioperative parameters of patients with a history of prior abdominal surgeries (PS) were compared to those of patients with no history of prior abdominal surgeries (NPS).

RESULTS

Out of 131 patients undergoing robotic-assisted pancreatic surgery, 62 (47%) had a history of abdominal surgery. Previous procedures included most often appendectomy (32%) followed by gynecological surgery (29%) and cholecystectomy (27%). 24% of PS had received multiple surgeries prior to the robotic-assisted pancreatic resections. Baseline characteristics and comorbidities were comparable between the groups. We did not detect differences in the duration of surgery (262 min), conversion rates (10%), and postoperative complications between NPS and PS. Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH), and in-house mortality showed no significant differences between the two groups. Multivariate analysis revealed male sex and high BMI as a potential predictive factor for severe postoperative complications. Other characteristics like the type of pancreatic resection, ASA, and underlying malignancy showed no difference in the multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose robotic-assisted pancreatic surgery to be safe and feasible for patients with a history of minor prior abdominal surgery. Hence, each patient should individually be evaluated for a minimally invasive approach regardless of a history of previous operations.