Laparoscopic assisted central pancreatectomy with pancreaticogastrostomy reconstruction - An alternative surgical technique for central pancreatic mass resection

Surgical Perspectives of Open vs. Laparoscopic Approaches to Lateral Pancreaticojejunostomy: A Comprehensive Review

Pancreaticojejunostomy, a critical step in pancreatic surgery, has significantly evolved surgical approaches, including open, laparoscopic, and robotic techniques. This comprehensive review explores open surgery's historical success, advantages, and disadvantages, emphasizing surgeons' accrued experience and familiarity with this approach. However, heightened morbidity and prolonged recovery associated with open pancreaticojejunostomy underscore the need for a nuanced evaluation of alternatives. The advent of robotic-assisted surgery introduces a paradigm shift in pancreatic procedures. Enhanced dexterity, facilitated by wristed instruments, allows intricate suturing and precise tissue manipulation crucial in pancreatic surgery. Three-dimensional visualization augments surgeon perception, improving spatial orientation and anastomotic alignment. Moreover, the potential for a reduced learning curve may enhance accessibility, especially for surgeons transitioning from open techniques. Emerging technologies, including advanced imaging modalities and artificial intelligence, present promising avenues for refining both open and minimally invasive approaches. The ongoing pursuit of optimal outcomes mandates a judicious consideration of surgical techniques, incorporating technological advancements to navigate challenges and enhance patient care in pancreaticojejunostomy.

Robotic central pancreatectomy

Central pancreatectomy (CP) is a parenchyma-sparing procedure that can be utilized in the resection of tumors of the neck or the proximal body of the pancreas. Among 872 open CP reported since 1993, the mean rate of morbidity was 43.2% and mean rate of mortality was 0.24%. The mean pancreatic fistula rate was 28%. The rate of clinically significant pancreatic fistulas with ISGPF Grades B and C was 19%. The rate of development of post-operative diabetes mellitus was at 2% and the average incidence of exocrine insufficiency experienced by patients undergoing open CP was 4.4%. Also, the mean length of hospital stay was around 15 days. In comparison, a total of 100 patients underwent either laparoscopic or robotic CP with a mean rate of morbidity of 37.3% and mean rate of mortality of 0%. Also, the mean rate of development of pancreatic fistula was 36.6%. The rate of clinically significant pancreatic fistulas with ISGPF Grades B and C was 17%. The rate of development of post-operative diabetes mellitus was at 1.5%. None of the patients included in these series developed any postoperative exocrine insufficiency. The mean length of hospital stay was around 13 days. Standard procedures such as DP and PD are associated with lower rates of short-term morbidity such as pancreatic fistula development but are also accompanied with a higher rate of long-term endocrine and exocrine insufficiency due to the significant loss of normal pancreatic parenchyma when compared to CP. It can be inferred, albeit from limited and small retrospective studies and case reports, that conventional and robotic-assisted laparoscopic approaches to CP are safe and feasible in highly specialized centers.

Laparoscopic long sleeve pancreaticogastrostomy (LPG): a novel pancreatic anastomosis following central pancreatectomy

BACKGROUND

Central pancreatectomy (CP) is preferred to distal pancreatectomy (DP) for the excision of benign tumours at the neck or body of the pancreas, in order to preserve pancreatic function and the spleen. However, the pancreaticoenterostomy is technically difficult to perform laparoscopically and the postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) rate is high.

METHODS

A novel laparoscopic reconstruction of the pancreatic stump during CP is described, the laparoscopic long sleeve pancreaticogastrostomy (LPG).

RESULTS

Two males and two females with a median age of 49 years had a laparoscopic CP with LPG. After a median follow-up of 27.5 months, there was no mortality. One patient had a grade A POPF, managed conservatively.

CONCLUSIONS

The LPG is a safe and technically less demanding method to reconstruct pancreatic drainage laparoscopically.

Robot-Assisted Middle Pancreatectomy for Elderly Patients: Our Initial Experience

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications, safety, feasibility, and short- and long-term outcomes for elderly patients who underwent robot-assisted middle pancreatectomies (MPs).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ten patients (≥60 years) underwent robot-assisted middle pancreatectomies from 2012 to 2015. The perioperative data, including tumor size, operating time, rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), postoperative morbidity, and other parameters, were analyzed. We collected and analyzed the follow-up information.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 64.30 years (range, 60-73 years). The average tumor size was 2.61 cm. The 10 cases were all benign or low-grade malignant lesions. The mean operating time was 175.00 min. The mean blood loss was 113.00 ml with no blood transfusion needed. Postoperative fistulas developed in 5 patients; there were 2 Grade A fistulas and 3 grade B fistulas. There were 3 patients who underwent postoperative complications, including 2 Grade 1 or 2 complications and 1 Grade 3 complication. No reoperation and postoperative mortality occurred. The mean hospital stay was 19.91 days. After a median follow-up of 23 months, new onset of diabetes mellitus developed in 1 patient and none suffered from deterioration of previously diagnosed diabetes or exocrine insufficiency, and no tumor recurrence happened.

CONCLUSIONS

Robot-assisted middle pancreatectomy was safe and feasible for elderly people. It had low risk of exocrine or endocrine dysfunction and benefited patients' long-term outcomes. Incidence of POPF was relatively high but we could prevent it from resulting in bad outcomes by scientific perioperative care and systemic treatment.

Binding pancreaticogastrostomy in laparoscopic central pancreatectomy: a novel technique in laparoscopic pancreatic surgery

BACKGROUND

Even though more and more cases of laparoscopic central pancreatectomy (LCP) are reported (Machado et al. in Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech 23(6):486-490, 2013; Hong et al. in World J Surg Oncol 10:223, 2012; Gonzalez et al. in JOP 14(3):273-276, 2013, Zhang et al. in J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 23(11):912-918, 2013; Sucandy et al. in N Am J Med Sci 2(9):438-441, 2010; Sa Cunha et al. in Surgery 142(3):405-409, 2007), the management for pancreatic stumps remains the most technically challenging part which is the same as in pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), making it the bottleneck for laparoscopic pancreatic surgery. In open surgery, various pancreatic reconstruction techniques designed for either pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) or pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) have been attempted to reduce the postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), including the binding anastomosis, invented by our team, i.e., binding PG (BPG) and binding PJ, which have been proved to be effective to reduce the POPF (Hong et al. 2012; Peng et al. in Ann Surg 245(5):692-698, 2007; Peng et al. in Updates Surg 63(2):69-74, 2011). However, despite of this, few reports are seen addressing such technique for laparoscopic surgery even though laparoscopic pancreatic surgery is more performed. After a previous successful laparoscopic BPG in a case of laparoscopic CP (LCP; Hong et al. 2012) and more than 50 cases of open PD and CP (Peng et al. 2011), we further performed laparoscopic BPG in 10 consecutive cases of LCP with satisfactory outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the feasibility and efficacy of LCP with BPG.

METHODS

Between October 2011 and July 2014, LCP with laparoscopic BPG was performed in ten consecutive patients with lesions of benign or low malignancy at the pancreatic neck. Operative and pathological data, complications, hospital stay and details on the surgical techniques were introduced.

RESULTS

The operations were successfully performed in all the ten cases, with no conversions. The tumor size ranged from 2.0-3.0 to 2.5-3.0 cm, average (2.50 ± 0.35) to (2.66 ± 0.35) cm, and the diameter of pancreatic duct was (1.6-2.1) mm, average (1.71 ± 0.17) mm. Operation time was 170-250 (198.50 ± 25.82) min, and blood loss was 20-300 (125 ± 107.31) mL. Three cases had grade A pancreatic fistula (PF), and one case had delayed gastric emptying, which were all managed with conservative treatment. Upper GI bleeding occurred in one case which was cured with second operation, time for the recovery of bowl movement was 3-5 (4.2 ± 0.8) days, the time for semifluid dieting was 6-10 (8.2 ± 1.5) days, and the hospital stay was 8-20 (12.8 ± 4.63) days. The postoperative fast blood sugar was (6.3 ± 1.6) mmol/L with the normal diet, which was not significantly different from the preoperative data (5.3 ± 0.5) mmol/L (P > 0.05). The postoperative pathology was as follows: five cases of cystic serous adenoma, one case of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, two cases of neuroendocrine tumor, and two cases of solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas. All the patients were followed up for 7-40 months, no recurrence happened, and no new incidence of diabetes or insufficiency of pancreatic exocrine function occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

LCP with BPG is feasible and safe; the advantages lie in its minimal invasiveness, the efficacy for avoiding PF, and the preservation of the pancreatic endocrine and exocrine function insufficiency, making it an ideal procedure for the benign or low-malignant lesions at the pancreatic neck.

Laparoscopic central pancreatectomy: a review of 51 cases

BACKGROUND

Central pancreatectomy is an alternative technique for benign or low-grade malignant tumors. Laparoscopic central pancreatectomy has been rarely performed, with only 48 cases reported in the English literature. The aim of this paper was to review all published cases together with 3 cases from our institution.

METHODS

All published articles indexed on PubMed were included. Terms used were "laparoscopic central pancreatectomy" or "laparoscopic middle pancreatectomy." Variables studied were the operative time, the type of reconstruction, indications, the use of robotic or hand assistance, blood loss, transfusion, pancreatic fistula, hospital stay, follow-up, development of exocrine and/or endocrine insufficiency, morbidity, and mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 51 patients were identified. Twenty-one patients underwent total laparoscopy (41.2%), 27 required robotic assistance (52.9%), one required hand assistance (1.9%), and there were 2 conversions. In 18 cases (35.3%), pancreatic reconstruction involved a Roux-en-Y pancreatojejunostomy, and in 32 cases, pancreatogastrostomy (62.7%). The mean operative time was 356 minutes. Blood loss was minimal in most cases, and only 1 patient required blood transfusion (1.9%). Mortality was nil, but morbidity was high, mainly because of pancreatic fistula (46%). The mean hospital stay was 13.8 days. All patients underwent laparoscopic central pancreatectomy for benign or low-grade neoplasms. The mean follow-up duration was 19.6 months (range, 2 to 48 mo). No patient presented exocrine or endocrine insufficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic central pancreatectomy is a feasible and useful technique for the removal of tumors located in the neck of the pancreas. There are very few centers performing this operation, and therefore, a literature review was necessary to identify its indications and technical possibilities, and to promote its use.

Laparoscopic central pancreatectomy with pancreaticojejunostomy: preliminary experience with 8 cases

BACKGROUND

Central pancreatectomy has been accepted as an alternative procedure for treating benign or low-grade malignant tumors in the pancreatic neck or proximal body of the pancreas, which preserves pancreatic parenchyma and function. In this study, we present our experience of laparoscopic central pancreatectomy with pancreaticojejunostomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From April 2011 to February 2013, 8 patients underwent laparoscopic central pancreatectomy with a Roux-en-Y modified "dunking" or duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy for benign or low-grade malignant tumors in the pancreatic neck or proximal body of the pancreas at the Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Hangzhou, China. Surgical procedure, postoperative course, and follow-up data were collected.

RESULTS

Laparoscopic central pancreatectomy was performed successfully in all the patients. The pancreaticojejunostomy was executed with a modified "dunking" pancreaticojejunostomy (n=7) or duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy (n=1). The mean operative time was 286±27 minutes (range, 250-330 minutes), with a mean blood loss of 57±21 mL (range, 30-100 mL). Mortality was 0%, and perioperative morbidity was 37.5% (pancreatic fistula [grade A], bleeding of a splenic vein branch, and retroperitoneal infection). The median postoperative hospital stay was 10 days (range, 6-38 days). At a median follow-up of 7.5 months (range, 2-24 months), all patients were alive without any exocrine or endocrine insufficiency or recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic central pancreatectomy is feasible and safe. The modified "dunking" pancreaticojejunostomy can be performed safely in this approach.

Laparoscopic parenchyma-sparing pancreatectomy

In recent years laparoscopic pancreatic procedures have developed rapidly, and reports of laparoscopic resection including laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy and laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy have increased in number. On the other hand, many benign and low-grade malignant pancreatic lesions have recently been detected by the improved diagnostic modalities. Parenchyma-sparing pancreatectomy is a preferred surgical procedure for such benign and low-malignancy pancreatic lesions, because parenchyma-sparing pancreatectomy can avoid the unnecessary resection of the normal pancreatic parenchyma, thereby preserving the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas. Simultaneously, laparoscopic surgery has contributed to minimally invasive approaches for various pancreatic surgical procedures. The combination of laparoscopic surgery and parenchyma-sparing pancreatectomy is an ideal surgical procedure for benign and low-grade malignant pancreatic lesions. For laparoscopic parenchyma-sparing pancreatectomy to become more widely known and its indications clarified, it is necessary to demonstrate the clinical benefits, technical feasibility, and safety of this complex and difficult surgical procedure.