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BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have demonstrated that neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) can prolong the overall survival of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. However, most studies have focused on open surgery following NACT. AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic radical resection following NACT for PDAC. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 15 patients with pathologically confirmed PDAC who received NACT followed by laparoscopic radical surgery in our hospital from December 2019 to April 2022. All patients underwent abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography-CT before surgery to accurately assess tumor stage and exclude distant metastasis. RESULTS: All 15 patients with pancreatic cancer were successfully converted to surgical resection after NACT, including 8 patients with pancreatic head cancer and 7 patients with pancreatic body and tail cancer. Among them, 13 patients received the nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine regimen (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 plus nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 wk) and 2 patients received the modified FOLFIRINOX regimen (intravenous oxaliplatin 68 mg/m2, irinotecan 135 mg/m2, and leucovorin 400 mg/m2 on day 1 and fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 on day 1, followed by 46-h continuous infusion of fluorouracil 2400 mg/m2). After each treatment cycle, abdominal CT, tumor markers, and circulating tumor cell counts were reviewed to evaluate the treatment efficacy. All 15 patients achieved partial remission. The surgical procedures included laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD, n = 8) and laparoscopic radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (L-RAMPS, n = 7). None of them were converted to a laparotomy. One patient with pancreatic head carcinoma was found to have portal vein involvement during the operation, and LPD combined with vascular resection and reconstruction was performed. The amount of blood loss and operation times of L-RAMPS vs LPD were 435.71 ± 32.37 mL vs 343.75 ± 145.01 mL and 272.52 ± 49.14 min vs 444.38 ± 68.63 min, respectively. The number of dissected lymph nodes was 16.87 ± 4.10, and 3 patients had positive lymph nodes. One patient developed grade B postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after L-RAMPS, and one patient experienced jaundice after LPD. None of the patients died after surgery. As of April 2022, progressive disease was noted in 4 patients, 2 patients had liver metastasis, and one had both liver metastasis and lymph node metastasis and died during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic radical resection of PDAC after NACT is safe and effective if it is performed by a surgeon with rich experience in LPD and in a large center of pancreatic surgery.
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Background: Radical resection remains the most effective treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA). However, due to the complex anatomy of the hilar region, the tumor is prone to invade portal vein and hepatic arteries, making the surgical treatment of HCCA particularly difficult. Successful laparoscopic radical resection of HCCA(IIIA, IIIB) requires excellent surgical skills and rich experience. Furthermore, the safety and effectiveness of this operation are still controversial. Aim: To retrospectively analyze and compare the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic and open surgery for patients with HCCA. Methods: Clinical imaging and postoperative pathological data of 89 patients diagnosed with HCCA (IIIA, IIIB) and undergoing radical resection in our center from January 2018 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 6 patients (4 were lost to follow-up and 2 were pathologically confirmed to have other diseases after surgery) were ruled out, and clinical data was collected from the remaining 83 patients for statistical analysis. These patients were divided into an open surgery group (n=62) and a laparoscopic surgery group (n=21) according to the surgical methods used, and after 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM), 32 and 16 patients respectively in the open surgery group and laparoscopic surgery group were remained. The demographic data, Bismuth type, perioperative data, intraoperative data, postoperative complications, pathological findings, and long-term survivals were compared between these two groups. Results: After 1:2 PSM, 32 patients in the open surgery group and 16 patients in the laparoscopic surgery group were included for further analysis. Baseline characteristics and pathological outcomes were comparable between the two groups. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed in intraoperative blood loss and operative time, as it were 400-800 mL vs 200-400 mL (P=0.012) and (407.97 ± 76.06) min vs (489.69 ± 79.17) min (P=0.001) in the open surgery group and laparoscopic surgery group, respectively. The R0 resection rate of the open group was 28 cases (87.5%), and the R0 resection rate of the laparoscopic group was 15 cases (93.75%). The two groups showed no significant difference in terms of surgical approach, intraoperative blood transfusion, incidence of postoperative complications, and short- and long-term efficacy (P>0.05). Conclusions: Laparoscopic radical resection of HCCA has comparable perioperative safety compared to open surgery group, as it has less bleeding and shorter operation time. Although it is a promising procedure with the improvement of surgical skills and further accumulation of experience, further investigations are warranted before its wider application.
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Objective: To explore the association between a modified Blumgart anastomosis technique and the operative time and surgical complications. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that analyzed the data of patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy from January 2015 to March 2021. The primary outcome was to explore the association between the modified Blumgart anastomosis technique and operative time. Results: A total of 282 patients were enrolled. There were 177 cases of pancreatic duct-to-mucosa anastomosis in the traditional surgery group, and 105 cases of the modified three-step Blumgart anastomosis in the modified group. There were no statistically significant differences in the general and intraoperative characteristics found between the two groups (P > 0.05). The surgical method was an independent predictor of operative time. Overall complications postsurgery were less common in the modified group than in the traditional group. The incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula was higher in the traditional group than in the modified group (45 cases (25.4%) and 11 cases (10.5%), respectively). Fourteen cases (7.9%) in the traditional group and four case (3.8%) in the modified group had postoperative pancreatic fistula of grades B + C. The two groups had statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The results of the linear regression showed that the type of surgical method was associated with operation time (95% CI, -73.074 to -23.941, ß: -0.438, P < 0.001). Conclusion: This modified three-step Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy was associated with the operation time.
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Background: The roles of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of gallbladder cancer are still unclear and challenged by controversial findings. Recent research has shown that immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy may alleviate disease progression. Case Summary: A 45-year-old female patient with gallbladder cancer accompanied by multiple abdominal lymph node metastasis was treated with camrelizumab combined with paclitaxel for injection (albumin-bound) and gemcitabine (AG) to downstage the tumor before a radical surgery could be performed. The postoperative quality of life was superior to the preoperative level. Conclusion: Camrelizumab + AG offers a new therapeutic option for gallbladder cancer with multiple abdominal lymph node metastasis, which, however, warrants further validation in clinical trials.
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BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde pancreatic drainage (ERPD) and stent implantation has become the major treatment method for pancreatic pseudocysts. However, it is associated with a high recurrence rate and infection. AIM: To manage pancreatic pseudocysts by sequential therapy with endoscopic naso-pancreatic drainage (ENPD) combined with ERPD and evaluate the treatment outcome. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-two cases of pancreatic pseudocyst confirmed by endoscopic examination at our hospital between January 2014 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 152 cases of intubation via the duodenal papilla, of which 92 involved pancreatic duct stent implantation and 60 involved sequential therapy with combined ENPD and ERPD (two-step procedure). The success rate of the procedure, incidence of complications (infection, bleeding, etc.), recurrence, and length and cost of hospitalization were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The incidence of infection was significantly higher in the ERPD group (12 cases) than in the two-step procedure group (2 cases). Twelve patients developed infection in the ERPD group, and anti-infection therapy was effective in five cases but not in the remaining seven cases. Infection presented as fever and chills in the two-step procedure group. The reoperation rate was significantly higher in the ERPD group with seven cases compared with zero cases in the two-step procedure group (P < 0.05). Similarly, the recurrence rate was significantly higher in the ERPD group (19 cases) than in the two-step procedure group (0 cases). CONCLUSION: Sequential therapy with combined ENPD and ERPD is safe and effective in patients with pancreatic pseudocysts.
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BACKGROUND: Choledocholithiasis removal via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) then followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has gradually become the principal method in the treatment of gallstones and choledocholithiasis. We use ERCP through the cystic duct to treat gallstones combined with choledocholithiasis, with the aim to preserve the normal function of the gallbladder while simultaneously decreasing risk of biliary tract injury. CASE SUMMARY: A total of six cases of patients diagnosed with gallstones and choledocholithiasis were treated with ERCP. The efficacy was evaluated via operation success rate, calculus removal rate, postoperative hospital stay and average hospitalization costs; the safety was evaluated through perioperative complication probability, gallbladder function detection and gallstones recrudesce. The calculus removal rate reached 100%, and patients had mild adverse events, including 1 case of postoperative acute cholecystitis and another of increased blood urinary amylase; both were relieved after corresponding treatment, the remaining cases had no complications. The average hospital stay and hospitalization costs were 6.16 ± 1.47 d and 5194 ± 696 dollars. The 3-11 mo follow-up revealed that gallbladder contracted well, without recurrence of gallstones. CONCLUSION: This is the first batch of case reports for the treatment of gallstones and choledocholithiasis through ERCP approached by natural cavity. The results and effects of six reported cases proved that the new strategy is safe and feasible and is worthy of further exploration and application.
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of echocardiography in diagnosis of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). METHODS: A combination of suprasternal, parasternal, subcostal and apical views were employed to diagnose TAPVC and to trace the course of the anomalous pulmonary venous connection, the direction of the inter-atrial shunt, enlargement of right atrium (RA) and right ventricle (RV), superior and inferior vena cava. All pediatric patients underwent surgical repair. The results of echocardiography were compared with surgical findings. RESULT: A total of 28 consecutive pediatric patients with suspected TAPVC were included in this study. The TAPVC diagnosis was confirmed in 26 cases after surgery, partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) in one case, and Cor Triatriatum and possible TAPVC in another. The diagnostic accuracy of TAPVC by echocardiography in the study was 92.86%. There were 17 supracardiac TAPVC, 11 intracardiac TAPVC. In all patients, enlargement of the RA and RV, inter-atrial right-to-left shunt via atrial septal defects were documented in parasternal and subcostal views. Common pulmonary vein or four pulmonary vein direct to RA or via coronary sinus to RA were the draining sites of intracardiac TAPVC. The enlargement of left innominate vein-right superior vena cava draining to RA was seen in supracardiac TAPVC. CONCLUSION: A combination of suprasternal and subcostal multi-views in echocardiography can increase the diagnostic accuracy of TAPVC in pediatric patients.