Robotic transduodenal ampullectomy: Case report and review of the literature

Transduodenal robotic ampullectomy: tips and tricks and strategies for postoperative duodenal fistula management (with video)

Transduodenal Ampullectomy (TA) is a procedure for resecting low-malignancy ampullary tumors, with postoperative fistula as a notable complication. This study aims to clarify the indications for TA, outline the surgical robotic technique, and emphasize the importance of comprehensive complication management alongside the surgical approach. This multimedia article provides a detailed exposition of the robotic TA surgical technique, including the most important steps involved in exposing and reimplanting biliary and pancreatic ducts. The procedure encompasses the mobilization of the hepatic flexure of the colon, an extensive Kocher maneuver for duodenal mobilization, and ampulla exposure through a duodenal incision. Employing retraction loop sutures enhances surgical field visibility. Reconstruction involves securing pancreatic and biliary ducts to the duodenal mucosa, each tutored with a silicon catheter, and suturing for ampullectomy completion. The total operative time was 380 min. Final histopathology disclosed high-grade dysplasia with an isolated focus of adenocarcinoma (pT1), accompanied by clear resection margins. A postoperative duodenal fistula occurred, managed successfully through conservative treatment, utilizing subcutaneous drainage. Despite accurate robotic TA execution, complications may arise. This study underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach, incorporating meticulous surgical technique and effective complication management, to optimize patient outcomes.

Laparoscopic Transduodenal Ampullectomy: How We Have Standardized the Technique (with Video)

BACKGROUND

The procedure of choice for the resection of ampullary tumors comprises transduodenal ampullectomy (TDA), endoscopic papillectomy (EP), and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).¹ For neoplasms with low-grade dysplasia, TDA and EP have equivalent efficacies and lower morbidities than PD¹. Compared with EP, also as an organ-preserving procedure, TDA could be applicable for tumors involving the pancreatic ducts or common bile ducts.² Because TDA has a lower incidence of postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding and a higher R0 resection rate, its use could avoid the need to use multiple endoscopic procedures for larger lesions.³ Furthermore, during TDA, surgeons could convert to PD as necessary. However, TDA has rarely been performed using a minimally invasive approach that addresses the shortcomings of both the endoscopic and open surgical techniques without adding significant morbidity or compromising outcomes.^2,4 Conventional laparoscopic TDA (LTDA) remains limited due to the complexity of the surgical anatomy of the ampulla and the reconstruction required compared with robot-assisted procedures.^2-5 However, robot-assisted surgery is less popular and much more expensive than laparoscopic surgery. This report with a video describes the LTDA approach to standardize and simplify the surgical processes.

METHODS

A 48-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with epigastric pain. He had a history of cholecystolithiasis with chronic cholecystitis. A tumor approximately 2.2 cm in diameter located in the duodenal papilla was diagnosed by an enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan. The endoscopic biopsy result indicated a villous adenoma with moderate dysplasia. Laparoscopic TDA and cholecystectomy were planned. However, if the frozen sample analysis showed adenocarcinoma, laparoscopic PD (LPD) would be applied. The patient was placed in the supine position with both legs apart. Trocars were distributed in the same manner as in the authors' previous study to facilitate conversion to LPD.⁶ The procedure began with kocherization and dissection of the gastrocolic ligament to explore the second and third portions of the duodenum. A figure-eight suture was made using 4-0 prolene in the seromuscular layer, and then the duodenum was retracted to the left side of the patient. A longitudinal duodenotomy was made, and the ampulla of Vater was identified. A transfixing suture was placed through the tumor. Submucosal injection of norepinephrine (1:500) was performed to divide the mucosa from the muscular planes. Ampullectomy was performed by first dissecting in the submucosal plane with a harmonic scalpel at the 6 o'clock position until the pancreatic duct was reached. A 6-Fr plastic catheter was inserted into the pancreatic duct for subsequent reconstruction. Continued dissection around the tumor identified the bile duct. Another 6-Fr plastic catheter was inserted into the bile duct. The dissection was completed in the submucosal plane, and the specimen was retrieved for frozen sectioning. After confirmation of villous adenoma with moderate dysplasia and the proximal margin without residual tumor on frozen biopsy, reconstruction was performed. The septum between the ducts was plastered, and the bile and pancreatic ducts were reconstructed on the duodenal wall with 5-0 PDS-II interrupted sutures to ensure that these ducts remained patent and connected. After reconstruction, the plastic catheter was kept in the pancreatic duct but removed from the bile duct. Then, cholecystectomy was applied. Finally, the duodenum was closed obliquely in two layers, and two drains were routinely placed.

RESULTS

The operation time was 139 min, and the estimated blood loss was 50 ml. Final pathology confirmed villous adenoma with mild to moderate dysplasia. The postoperative course was uneventful, with a hospital stay of 9 days. There was no evidence of recurrence or patency of the reimplanted ducts 5 months after surgery. From February 2022 to May 2022, four cases of LTDA with the same surgical processes were managed by the authors, and all the patients recovered quickly without any postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

After standardization of the surgical processes, laparoscopic TDA was safe for highly selected patients. However, long-term follow-up is required to observe the quality of life and survival of patients.

Surgical options for the treatment of neuroendocrine neoplasms of the ampulla of Vater: a reference centre experience

INTRODUCTION

The main objective of this study was to analyse the results of the surgical treatment of ampullary neuroendocrine tumours (NET) based on transduodenal ampullectomy and pancreatoduodenectomy, in a reference centre in hepatobiliopancreatic pathology.

METHOD

Retrospective, observational study, including all patients operated on for pancreatic and/or duodenal NET in a reference unit of hepatobiliopancreatic pathology and prospectively registered between January 1st, 1993 and September 30th, 2021. For those parameters not present, retrospective research was performed. Demographic, clinical, analytical and pathological data were analysed. A descriptive study was carried out. Overall and disease-free survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier curves and the Log-Rank test.

RESULTS

Of 181 patients operated on for pancreatic and/or duodenal NET, only 9 were located in the ampulla of Vater, which represents 4.9% of all pancreatic and/or duodenal NET. Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) was performed in 6 patients, while 3 patients underwent transduodenal ampullectomy (TDA). Longer surgical time and more postoperative complications were observed in the PD group. There were no differences in hospital stay. Overall and disease-free survival at 5 years in the PD group compared to ATD was 83.3% vs. 100% and 50% vs. 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Ampullary NET without locoregional involvement or risk factors, can be treated by conservative surgeries such as transduodenal ampullectomy.

Our Experience With Transduodenal Surgical Ampullectomy

Tumors of the ampulla of Vater are uncommon lesions accounting for only 0.5% of the gastrointestinal tumors. A total of three techniques for ampullary tumors (AT) exist: endoscopic papillectomy (EP), surgical transduodenal ampullectomy (TDA), and partial pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). Scarce articles report the outcomes of TDA.

Two Arabic men presented to the hospital with epigastric pain and were subsequently diagnosed with AT. The TDA was performed a few days after the diagnosis. The first patient underwent a partial gastrectomy on the eleventh postoperative day. The second patient underwent endoscopic pyloric re-opening on the eleventh postoperative day to relieve gastric obstruction.

Both patients started tolerating food and were discharged home. Further randomized controlled studies assessing long-term complications, efficacy, and efficiency of TDA are now warranted.