New advances in pancreatic surgery

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pancreatic Disease - Current Status

Laparoscopic procedures have advanced to represent the new gold standard in many surgical fields. Although application in pancreatic surgery is hampered by the friable nature of the gland and the difficulty of its exposure, advanced technology and surgeons' experience are leading to an expansion of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery. Addressing the whole range of main operative procedures, this review analyzes the literature data so far to give an overview about the current status of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery, its indications and limitations. In acute pancreatitis, a step-up approach from percutaneous drainage to retroperitoneoscopic necrosectomy seems beneficial. Transgastric necrosectomy also preserves the retroperitoneal compartment in contrast to the laparoscopic approach, which has widely been abandoned. In tumor pathology, laparoscopic access is adequate for small benign lesions in the pancreatic tail and body. Oncological outcome shows to be at least equal to the open procedure. Concerning laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, there is no evidence for a patients' benefit currently although several studies prove that it can be done.

Focused open necrosectomy in necrotizing pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

The control of sepsis is the primary goal of surgical intervention in patients with infected necrosis. Simple surgical approaches that are easy to reproduce may improve outcomes when specialists in endoscopy are not available. The aim of the present study was to describe the experience with a focused open necrosectomy (FON) in patients with infected necrosis.

METHOD

A prospective pilot study conducted to compare a semi-open/closed drainage laparotomy and FON with the assistance of peri-operative ultrasound. The incidence of sepsis, dynamics of C-reactive protein (CRP), intensive care unit (ICU)/hospital stay, complication rate and mortality were compared and analysed.

RESULTS

From a total of 58 patients, 36 patients underwent a conventional open necrosectomy and 22 patients underwent FON. The latter method resulted in a faster resolution of sepsis and a significant decrease in mean CRP on Day 3 after FON, P = 0.001. Post-operative bleeding was in 1 versus 7 patients and the incidence of intestinal and pancreatic fistula was 2 versus 8 patients when comparing FON to the conventional approach. The median ICU stay was 11.6 versus 23 days and the hospital stay was significantly shorter, 57 versus 72 days, P = 0.024 when comparing FON versus the conventional group. One patient died in the FON group and seven patients died in the laparotomy group, P = 0.139.

DISCUSSION

FON can be an alternative method to conventional open necrosectomy in patients with infected necrosis and unresolved sepsis.

Parenchyma-sparing pancreatectomies for benign or border-line tumors of the pancreas

Standard pancreatic resections, such as pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, or total pancreatectomy, result in an important loss of normal pancreatic parenchyma and may cause impairment of exocrine and endocrine function. Whilst these procedures are mandatory for malignant tumors, they seem to be too extensive for benign or border-line tumors, especially in patients with a long life expectancy. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in parenchyma-sparing pancreatic surgery with the aim of achieving better functional results without compromising oncological radicality in patients with benign, border-line or low-grade malignant tumors. Several limited resections have been introduced for isolated or multiple pancreatic lesions, depending on the location of the tumor: central pancreatectomy, duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection with or without segmental duodenectomy, inferior head resection, dorsal pancreatectomy, excavation of the pancreatic head, middle-preserving pancreatectomy, and other multiple segmental resections. All these procedures are technically feasible in experienced hands, with very low mortality, although with high morbidity rate when compared to standard procedures. Pancreatic endocrine and exocrine function is better preserved with good quality of life in most of the patients, and tumor recurrence is uncommon. Careful patient selection and expertise in pancreatic surgery are crucial to achieve the best results.

[Jejunocolic fistulae after pylorus-preserving pancreatic head resection: an uncommon cause of chronic diarrhea]

BACKGROUND

In patients with a history of pancreatic surgery, chronic diarrhea is mainly caused by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The authors report, for the first time, a case of jejunocolic fistulae as a cause of diarrhea and weight loss after pancreatic head resection.

CASE REPORT

A 55-year-old patient presented with chronic diarrhea and cachexia. He had undergone pylorus-preserving pancreatic head resection for chronic pancreatitis 8 years earlier. A recent colonoscopy showed an uncommon anatomy of the colon. Gastroscopy and computed tomography revealed several jejunocolic fistulae as the cause of chronic diarrhea. The patient underwent surgery and the fistula-carrying parts of jejunum and colon were resected. After surgery, his clinical status improved and he gained weight.

CONCLUSION

Interenteric fistulae after pylorus-preserving pancreatic head resection have not been reported so far. Impaired synchronization of gastric emptying and bile secretion could be a possible cause of autodigestion in the anastomosis region.