Complete embolisation of the proper hepatic artery for delayed haemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a case report

Prevention of postpancreatectomy hemorrhage after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy by wrapping ligamentum teres hepatis surrounding hepatic portal artery

Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) is an important risk factor for postoperative complications after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). Recent studies have reported that the use of ligamentum teres hepatis (LTH) in LPD may reduce the risk of PPH. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether wrapping the hepatic hilar artery with the LTH can reduce PPH after LPD. We reviewed the data of 131 patients who underwent LPD in our team from April 2018 to December 2023. The patients were divided into Groups A (60 patients) and B (71 patients) according to whether the hepatic portal artery was wrapped or not. The perioperative data of the two groups were compared to evaluate the effect of LTH wrapping the hepatic hilar artery on LPD. The platelet count of Group A was (225.25 ± 87.61) × 10^9/L, and that of Group B was (289.38 ± 127.35) × 10^9/L, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). The operation time of group A [300.00 (270.00, 364.00)] minutes was shorter than that of group B [330.00 (300.00, 360.00)] minutes, p = 0.037. In addition, A set of postoperative hospital stay [12.00 (10.00, 15.00)] days shorter than group B [15.00 (12.00, 19.50)] days, p < 0.001. No PPH occurred in Group A, while 8 patients in Group B had PPH (7 cases of gastroduodenal artery hemorrhage and 1 case of proper hepatic artery hemorrhage), p = 0.019. The new technique of wrapping the hepatic hilar artery through the LTH can effectively reduce the occurrence of PPH after LPD.

Confusing delayed hematemesis, unusual arterial hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a case report

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is one of the most complex surgeries and is associated with a high rate of complications, including bleeding, delayed gastric emptying (DGE), and pancreatic fistula. Although the frequency of postoperative hemorrhage is not high, this complication results in severe adverse outcomes. A 67-year-old man was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent PD. On the tenth day after surgery, he developed hypovolemic shock with hematemesis. Urgent digital subtraction angiography identified the bleeding artery as the jejunal mesenteric artery at the afferent loop, and the bleeding artery was embolized with two coils. After digital subtraction angiography, the patient had an uneventful recovery with no further complications. Therefore, we concluded that it is possible that bleeding may occur in the afferent loop when hemorrhage occurs after PD.