Wrapping of skeletonized and divided vessels using the falciform ligament in distal pancreatectomy

Wrapping gastroduodenal artery stump with the teres hepatis ligament to prevent postpancreatectomy hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Gastroduodenal artery (GDA) stump erosion hemorrhage is a fatal complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy. This study aimed to determine whether GDA stump wrapping with the teres hepatis ligament during pancreaticoduodenectomy decreased the incidence of postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH).

METHODS

We reviewed 307 patients who had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy between March 2019 and June 2022. The patients were divided into two groups according to application of GDA stump wrapping with the teres hepatis ligament: GDA wrapping group (165 patients) and no-wrapping group (142 patients). The perioperative data were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The clinical characteristics were balanced between the two groups. Grades B and C PPH and GDA-stump-related hemorrhage were significantly reduced in the GDA wrapping group compared with the no-wrapping group (PPH B/C, 13.4% vs 6.1%, P = 0.029; GDA hemorrhage, 5.6% vs 0.6%, P = 0.014). No difference was observed in the incidence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula, biliary leak, intra-abdominal abscess, delayed gastric emptying, 90-day mortality, and postoperative hospital stay between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Wrapping GDA stump with the teres hepatis ligament reduced the incidence of GDA-stump-related PPH. Therefore, the wrapping technique is a simple and effective strategy to prevent PPH. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the benefit of this procedure.

The falciform/round ligament "flooring," an effective method to reduce life-threatening post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage occurrence

PURPOSE

Late post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) represents the most severe complication after pancreatic surgery. We have measured the efficacy of major vessels "flooring" with falciform/round ligament to prevent life-threatening grade C late PPH after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and distal pancreatectomy (DP).

METHODS

All consecutive patients who underwent PD and DP between 2013 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed on a prospectively maintained database. The cohort was divided in two groups: "flooring" vs. "no flooring" method group. The "no flooring" group had omental flap interposition. Patient characteristics and operative and postoperative data including clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF), late PPH (grade B and C), and 90-day mortality were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Two hundred and forty patients underwent pancreatic resections, including 143 PD and 97 DP. The "flooring" method was performed in 61 patients (39 PD and 22 DP). No difference was found between the two groups concerning severe morbidity, CR-POPF, delayed PPH, and mortality rate. The rate of patients requiring postoperative intensive care unit was lower in the "flooring" than in the "no flooring" method group (11.5% vs. 25.1%, p = 0.030). Among patients with grade B/C late PPH (n = 30), the rate of life-threatening grade C late PPH was lower in the "flooring" than in the "no flooring" method group (28.6% (n = 2/7) vs. 82.6% (n = 19/24), p = 0.014). Risk factor analysis showed that the "flooring" method was the only protective factor against grade C late PPH occurrence (p = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

The "flooring" method using the falciform/round ligament should be considered during pancreatectomies to reduce the occurrence of life-threatening grade C late PPH.

Applications of hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft in abdominal surgery-a review of their utility and efficacy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Despite their ubiquitous presence, easy availability and diverse possibilities, falciform ligament and hepatic round ligament have been used less frequently than their potential dictates. This article aims to comprehensively review the applications of hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft in abdominal surgery and assess their utility and efficacy.

METHODS

Medical literature/indexing databases were searched, using internet search engines, for pertinent articles and analysed.

RESULTS

The studied flap and graft have found utility predominantly in the management of diaphragmatic hernias, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, peptic perforations, biliary reconstruction, venous reconstruction, post-operative pancreatic fistula, post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage, hepatic cyst cavity obliteration, liver bleed, sternal dehiscence, splenectomy, reinforcement of aortic stump, feeding access, diagnostic/therapeutic access into portal system, composite tissue allo-transplant and ventriculo-peritoneal shunting where they have exhibited the desired efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic round ligament/falciform ligament flap and graft are versatile and have multifarious applications in abdominal surgery with some novel and unique uses in hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery including liver transplantation. Their evident efficacy needs wider adoption to realise their true potential.

How to close the pancreatic stump and the role of sealants

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is the most common and also the most threatening complication following distal pancreatectomy. For this reason, morbidity and mortality of this operation remain still high. Over the last two decades, many different studies have been performed aiming to reduce the rate and the severity of POPF. However, effective treatments to prevent or avoid clinically relevant pancreatic fistula are still unclear. In this review, we discuss the current evidence on such a relevant topic.

Pancreatoduodenectomy with or without prophylactic falciform ligament wrap around the gastroduodenal artery stump for prevention of pancreatectomy hemorrhage

Background

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether wrapping of the pedicled falciform ligamentum flap around the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) stump/hepatic artery can significantly decrease the incidence of erosion hemorrhage after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods/design

This is a randomized controlled multicenter trial involving 400 patients undergoing PD. Patients will be randomized into two groups. The intervention group consists of 200 patients with a prophylactic wrapping of the GDA stump using the pedicled falciform ligament. The control group consists of 200 patients without the wrap. The primary endpoint is the rate of postoperative erosion hemorrhage of the GDA stump or hepatic artery within 3 months. The secondary endpoints are postpancreatectomy hemorrhage stratified according to the texture of the pancreas, postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), postoperative rate of therapeutic interventions, morbidity, and mortality.

Discussion

Only few retrospective studies investigated the effectiveness of a falciform ligament wrap around the GDA for prevention of erosion hemorrhage. Erosion hemorrhage occurs in up to 6–9% of cases after PD and is most frequently evoked by a POPF. Erosion hemorrhage is associated with a remarkable mortality of over 30%. The rate of hemorrhage after performing the wrap is reported to be low. However, there exist no prospectively controlled data to support its general use. Therefore, the presented randomized controlled trial will provide clinically relevant evidence of the effectiveness of the wrap with statistical significance.

Trial registration

clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02588066; Registered on 27 October 2015.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-2580-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Sealing with Cyanoacrylate and a Falciform Patch Cannot Prevent Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a new combined method of covering the pancreatic anastomosis or stump with a cyanoacrylate and a falciform patch (CAFP) on the occurrence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF).

METHODS

Patients undergoing a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or a distal pancreatectomy (DP) were recruited over a period of 12 months. The pancreaticojejunostomy in PD and the stump in DP were sealed with cyanoacrylate glue and wrapped in a falciform patch. Incidence and severity of POPF and associated postoperative complications were retrospectively compared with historical controls of 750 PD and 336 DP at the same institution and with current data from the literature.

RESULTS

The new method was applied in 27 PD and 25 DP. The rate of clinically relevant POPF after PD with CAFP was 22.2% compared to 14.4% in historical patients, p = 0.26. The rate of clinically relevant POPF after DP with CAFP was 36% compared to 30% in historical patients, p = 0.65.

CONCLUSION

Sealing the pancreatic anastomosis or stump with a combination of a cyanoacrylate glue and a falciform patch didn't reduce the rate of POPF after major pancreatic resections.

Falciform ligament wrap for prevention of gastroduodenal artery bleed after pancreatoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

The present study aims to assess the effectiveness and current evidence of a pedicled falciform ligament wrap around the gastroduodenal artery stump for prevention of erosion hemorrhage after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).

METHODS

Retrospective data were pooled for meta-analysis. At the own center, patients who underwent PD between 2012 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed based on the intraoperative performance of the wrap. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed that combined the published and the obtained original data. The following databases were searched: Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library.

RESULTS

At the own center, a falciform ligament wrap was performed in 39 of 196 PDs (20%). The wrap group contained more ampullary neoplasms, but the pancreatic fistula rate was not significantly different from the nonwrap group (28% versus 32%). In median, erosion hemorrhage occurred after 21.5 d, and it was lethal in 39% of the patients. Its incidence was not significantly lower in the wrap group (incidence: 7.7% versus 9.6% in the nonwrap group). The systematic literature search yielded four retrospective studies with a high risk of bias; only one study was controlled. When the five data sets of published and own cases with a falciform ligament wrap were pooled, the incidence of erosion hemorrhage was 5 of 533 cases (0.9%) compared with 24 of 297 cases (8.1%) without the wrap.

CONCLUSIONS

The reported incidence of erosion hemorrhage after the falciform ligament wrap is low, but there are still insufficient controlled data to support its general use.

Wrapping in pancreatic surgery: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Wrapping in pancreatic surgery involves the use of the omentum or falciform ligament (FL) to wrap the local retroperitoneal vessels, the pancreatojejunal anastomosis or the pancreatic section of distal pancreatectomy. However, there is no clear evidence that wrapping in fact provides benefits. We have performed a systematic review of the literature about this topic.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search in the PubMed/MEDLINE database (1966-2012) for any language using various combinations of the following terms: wrapping, omental, omentum, pancreas, pancreatoduodenectomy and falciform ligament.

RESULTS

We selected 12 articles. Among five series that included a control group, only one obtained a statistically significant reduction in pancreatic fistula (PF) in the wrapping group and other series showed a lower percentage of post-operative haemorrhage in the wrapping group. In the seven series without control groups, a slight decrease in the rate of post-operative bleeding and PF was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of the literature available at present, we cannot recommend the use of wrapping with omentum and/or FL in pancreatic surgery. Prospective randomized studies applying a systematic wrapping technique are needed in order to establish whether its use should be generalized.

DISCOVER trial- Distal resection of the pancreas with or without coverage of the pancreatic remnant: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial

Background

Distal pancreatectomy for benign and malignant tumours is the second most common surgical procedure on the pancreas. Postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPF) represent the most significant clinical complication, causing prolongation of hospital stay and the need for additional diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Although various techniques for preventing POPF have been evaluated, to date, there is no available technique that ensures closure of the pancreatic remnant.

Methods/Design

DISCOVER will aim to investigate differences in the postoperative course after a distal pancreatectomy comparing the standard surgical technique with an alternative technique that provides additional coverage of the pancreatic remnant by the falciform ligament. The primary endpoint of this trial will be the rate of POPF. As secondary endpoints, incidence of postoperative morbidity and mortality, length of hospital stay, and quality of life will be assessed.

DISCOVER is a single-centre, randomised, controlled surgical trial. For statistical analysis, a binary logistic regression model will be used. With a level of significance of 5% and a power of 80%, a sample size of 75 patients per group has been identified as necessary.

Discussion

The findings of this trial will help to evaluate the usefulness of the coverage procedure at reducing the rate of POPF. The results could influence the standard procedure for remnant closure after distal pancreatectomy.

Trial-registration

Clinical trials register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00000546)

[Our efforts to decrease surgical complications following pancreatic resections]

INTRODUCTION

The most frequent surgical complications following pancreatic resections are pancreatic fistula and delayed gastric emptying. The aim of the authors was to analyse these complications in their own practice.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Clinical data of 287 patients were reviewed, who were radically operated on for malignant pancreatic or periampullary tumours during 14 years period. The most common neoplasm was pancreatic adenocarcinoma, located in the head of the pancreas. Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was most frequently performed. In the early period pancreatogastrostomy and double-layer pancreatojejunostomy were preferred during the reconstruction, as well as retrocolic duodeno-, and gastrojejunostomy, respectively. Later the authors turned to the single-layer implantation pancreatojejunostomy and to the antecolic reconstruction, the latter was completed with Braun anastomosis.

RESULTS

In the postoperative course complications occurred in 39%, reoperation was done in 5.6%, and the early mortality rate was 3.8%. The rate of pancreatic fistula decreased to 5.9% following single-layer pancreatojejunostomy, and the difference was significant compared to the 17.6% rate after pancreatogastrostomy. Due to the antecolic reconstruction the frequency of delayed gastric emptying has reduced from 10.2% to 2.1%, which is a statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

As a result of changes in the surgical techniques during the 14 years period, the frequency of pancreatic fistula and delayed gastic emptying has dramatically decreased, which underlines the need of continuous progress in surgical methods.

Use of a falciform ligament pedicle flap to decrease pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy

OBJECTIVES

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains a significant source of morbidity after distal pancreatectomy (DP). We describe a technique for coverage of the pancreatic stump after DP using a pedicled falciform ligament flap with a low POPF rate.

METHODS

A retrospective review of clinical, radiographic, and pathologic variables of patients undergoing open DP between November 2005 and August 2009 was performed. After standardized DP, the pancreatic stump was closed using a pedicled falciform ligament flap. Postoperative pancreatic fistula was defined using the International Study Group classification for pancreatic fistula definition.

RESULTS

Twenty-three consecutive patients underwent open DP and splenectomy with closure of the pancreatic stump using a pedicled falciform ligament flap. Pancreatic transection and stump closure was performed in a uniform fashion in all patients. Eight patients (35%) had additional organs resected. Two patients (8.7%) developed grade C POPFs, which were successfully managed with percutaneous drain placement. No additional patients developed a POPF or abdominal abscess. The median length of stay was 5 days. There were no perioperative mortalities.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that use of a pedicled falciform ligament flap for coverage of the pancreatic stump is associated with a low incidence of POPF. Continued investigation of this technique is warranted.

Transecting the pancreas neck with electrothermal bipolar vessel sealer (LigaSure) in laparoscopic left pancreatectomy: case report

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic fistula after distal pancreatectomy remains an unsolved problem, ranging in frequency between 15% and 40%, regardless of whether the intervention is performed laparoscopically or by open surgery.

METHODS

Herein, presenting the case of a 68-year-old woman with a functioning insulinoma submitted to laparoscopic spleen preserving distal pancreatectomy, we propose a new technique of pancreatic transection by the LigaSure system, which seals vessels and other tubular structures by reforming parietal collagen and elastin.

RESULTS

The patient had a favorable outcome. The reported technique presents the advantages of an easy employ and of a contemporary hemostasis, thus being particularly suitable by the laparoscopic way, and may offer from a theoretical point of view some advantages over conventional pancreatic stump closure techniques in terms of fistula formation.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic pancreatic transection by LigaSure may prove useful, safe, and effective. A prospective clinical study has now been designed to confirm such hypothesis.

SHORT SUMMARY

A simple and safe technique for pancreas neck transection, particularly suitable for laparoscopic left pancreatectomy, is described.

Randomized clinical trial of techniques for closure of the pancreatic remnant following distal pancreatectomy (Br J Surg 2009; 96: 602-607)

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