Pancreaticoduodenectomy with Segmental Venous Resection: a Standardized Technique Avoiding Graft Interposition

Use of Vascular Shunt at the Time of Pancreatectomy with Venous Resection: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The rising diffusion of vascular resections during complex pancreatectomy for malignancy, for both oncological and technical matters, brought with it the use of vascular shunts, either temporary or definitive, to prevent bowel congestion and liver ischemia. This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the technical feasibility of vascular shunts during advanced pancreatic surgery, analyzing intraoperative and postoperative outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library Central, according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies published before 2006 were excluded, considering the lack of a standardized definition of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The main outcomes evaluated were the overall complication rate and shunt patency.

RESULTS

Among 789 papers retrieved from the database search, only five fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the review, amounting to a total of 145 patients undergoing a shunt creation at the time of pancreatectomy. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) was found to be the most common diagnosis and pancreaticoduodenectomy was the main surgical procedure, accounting for 88% and 83% of the overall cohort, respectively. The distal splenorenal shunt was the most performed. Overall, 44 out of 145 patients (30%) experienced postoperative complications; the long-term patency of definitive shunts was 83% (110 out of 120 patients).

CONCLUSIONS

An increasing number of patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced PDAC are becoming amenable to resection and shunt creation may facilitate vascular resection with clear margins, becoming a valid tool of modern pancreatic surgery.

Pancreatectomy After Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX Chemotherapy: Identifying Factors Predicting Long-Term Survival

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of the association of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with pancreatectomy with vascular resection in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

Clinical data from patients who underwent pancreatic resection after neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX were retrospectively reviewed. Cox analyses were used to identify factors prognostic of overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

FOLFIRINOX protocol was administered pre-operatively with a median number of nine cycles (range 2-18) in 98 patients. Types of resections included pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 53), total pancreatectomy (n = 17), and distal spleno-pancreatectomy (n = 28). Venous resection and arterial resections were performed in 85 (86.7%) and 64 patients (65.3%), respectively. The overall 90-day mortality and morbidity rates were 6.1% (n = 6) and 47% (n = 47), respectively. The median OS was 31.08 months after surgery. OS rates at one, three, five, and 10 years were 82%, 47%, 28%, and 21%, respectively. According to the type of vascular resection, median OS and 5-year survival rates were exclusive venous resection (31.08 months; 23%) and arterial resections (24.7 months; 27%). Multivariate Cox analysis found lymph node involvement, venous invasion, and total pancreatectomy as independent prognostic factors for OS. According to the presence of 0 or 1-3 risk factors, 5-year survival (85% vs 16%) and median overall survival rates (not reached versus 24.7 months, respectively) were statistically significantly different (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

A multimodal treatment, including neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX combined with pancreatectomy with venous and arterial resection, achieves long term survival rates in patients with locally advanced disease. Surgery, in experienced centers, should be integrated into the treatment of patients with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinomas.

Surgical Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: Currently Debated Topics on Vascular Resection

Vascular resections involving the superior mesenteric and portal veins (SMV-PV), celiac axis (CA), superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and hepatic artery (HA) have multiplied in recent years, raising the resection rate for pancreatic cancer (PDAC) and the related morbidity and mortality rates. While resection is generally accepted for resectable SMV-PV, the usefulness of associated arterial resection in borderline resectable (BRPC) and locally-advanced PDAC (LAPC) is much debated. Careful selection of splenic vein reconstruction is very important to prevent left-sided portal hypertension (LSPH). During distal pancreatectomy (DP), CA and common HA resection is largely accepted, while there is debate on the value of SMA and proper HA resection and reconstruction. Their resection is useless according to several reviews and meta-analyses, and some international societies, although some high-volume centers have reported good results. Short- and long-term reconstructed vessel patency varies with the type of reconstruction, the material used, and the surgeon's experience. Laparoscopic and robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy and DP are generally accepted if done by surgeons performing at least 10 such procedures annually. The usefulness of associated vascular resection remains highly controversial. Surgeons need to complete numerous minimally-invasive procedures to overcome the learning curve, and prevent an increase in complications and surgical mortality. Higher resectability rates and satisfactory long-term results have been reported after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for BRPC and LAPC requiring vascular resection. It is essential to select the most appropriate NAT for a given patient and to assess PDAC resectability preoperatively.

Resection of pancreatic adenocarcinomas with synchronous liver metastases: A retrospective study of prognostic factors for survival

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the results of synchronous liver resection for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and to identify prognostic factors for overall survival.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from patients who underwent the synchronous resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with liver metastases. Cox analyses were used to identify factors prognostic of overall survival.

RESULTS

Of the 92 patients included in this study, preoperative chemotherapy was administered to 52 patients. The median overall survival was 18.26 months (95% confidence interval: 14.7-22.7) (from diagnosis) and 12.68 months (95% confidence interval: 9.5-15.57) from surgery; overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 70%, 10%, and 0%, respectively. Twenty-eight patients (30.4%) had median overall survival >18 months after surgery. The median overall survival from diagnosis was longer in patients undergoing preoperative treatment (22.7 vs 13.8 months; P = .01) but similar after surgery (12.6 vs 13.8 months; P = .86). Multivariate Cox analysis found CA19-9 levels <500 kU/L (hazard ratio: 0.35; 95% confidence interval: 0.17-0.70; P = .003), R0 resection (hazard ratio: 0.46; 95% confidence interval: 0.24-0.88; P = .020), and adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio: 0.39; 95% confidence interval: 0.17-0.88; P = .024) as independent prognostic factors for overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Survival after resection of oligometastatic liver disease remains limited, reflecting the dismal prognosis of metastatic disease even after aggressive treatment. Preresection CA19-9 serum levels represent a useful tool for patient selection, and administration of adjuvant chemotherapy has a major impact on overall survival. Large comparative studies with exclusive chemotherapy are needed to validate this approach and to identify optimal candidates.

Upfront versus resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinomas with venous contact: comparative analysis of operative and survival outcomes

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant treatment before resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma having contact with the splenomesentericoportal venous axis could improve the results of extended pancreatectomies. We compared the outcomes of upfront (UR) and resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with venous resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2020. Operative, pathologic, and survival outcomes were compared between upfront and resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Of the 169 patients, 55 patients underwent preoperative chemotherapy and 114 underwent upfront. No differences were found in operative time, morbidity, and mortality between the 2 groups. At pathologic examination, patients who underwent resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a significantly smaller tumor size, higher rate of R0 resection, less lymph node involvement, and a lower rate of pathologic venous invasion (P < .05). The median overall survival was 27.96 months, and the overall survival rates at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 82%, 39%, 22%, and 11%, respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis found neoadjuvant treatment (hazard ratio: 0.60; 95% confidence interval: 0.38-0.97; P = .03), and intraoperative transfusion (hazard ratio: 2.25; 95% confidence interval: 1.47-3.46; P = .0002) as independent prognostic factors for overall survival. A dose-dependent effect of perioperative transfusion on overall survival was found (no transfusion, = 2 red blood cells, >2 red blood cells; median overall survival 41.1 months vs 27.01 months vs 19.4 months; P = .0003).

CONCLUSION

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves the pathologic and survival outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy with venous resection for pancreatic adenocarcinomas. The dose-dependent effect of perioperative transfusion on overall survival warrants further investigation.

Predicting pathologic venous invasion before pancreatectomy with venous resection: When does radiology tell the truth?

BACKGROUND

Patients factors in addition to radiological characteristics could predict the presence of pathologic venous invasion in patients undergoing pancreatectomy with venous resection.

METHODS

We tested the predictive value of 6 radiological classification methods for predicting pathologic venous invasion-the Nakao, Ishikawa, MD Anderson, Lu, Raptopoulos, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network methods-on a cohort of 198 pancreatectomies (160 pancreaticoduodenectomies and 38 total pancreatectomies) with venous resection for pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Radiological and clinical factors determining pathologic venous invasion were identified by multivariable logistic analysis.

RESULTS

Pathologic venous invasion was detected in 124 patients (63.2%). The multivariable logistic regression analysis identified Lu classification (odds ratio = 1.77, 95% confidence interval =1.34-2.35; P < .0001), elevated serum CA19-9 values (odds ratio = 1.97, 95% confidence interval = 1.00-3.90; P = .04), and preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy (odds ratio = 0.38, 95% confidence interval = 0.18-0.79; P = .009) as independent factors associated with pathologic venous invasion. Radiological tumor-vessel contact greater than 50% of the circumference or venous wall deformity was associated with a significantly higher rate of pathological venous invasion (80% vs 52%; P < .0001), deeper (media-intima) venous invasion (47% vs 25%; P < .0001), R1 resection (58% vs 41%; P = .03), higher transfusions (84% vs 66%; P = .005), and arterial resection rates (43% vs 27%; P < .0001). Tumor-vein circumference contact of >50% and/or venous wall deformity was still associated with significantly higher rates of pathologic venous invasion, regardless of whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy was used or not and CA19-9 normalized or not under preoperative treatment.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative radiological detection of tumor-vein circumference contact >50% and/or venous wall deformity is associated with up to 80% of cases of pathological venous invasion. The combination of radiologic features with biological (CA19-9) and clinical (presence of preoperative chemotherapy) factors could better refine preoperatively the need for venous resection.