Posterior enucleation of the pancreatic head: an alternative route of access for parenchyma-sparing pancreatic resection.

BACKGROUND: Enucleation has become an alternative treatment in benign or low-malignant cystic tumors, including intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN). For enucleation to be a safe alternative to the standard procedures, there must be good access to the resection area. In this report, we present such a route for dorsally situated IPMNs. METHODS: The head of the pancreas was exposed by an extended Kocher maneuver to the left lateral edge of the aorta. Stay sutures were placed along the second part of the duodenum to allow maximal rotation of the pancreatic head to the left, which exposed the posterior aspect of the pancreatic head. The cystic lesion was then enucleated followed by a protective pancreaticojejunostomy on the resection cavity. RESULTS: Two consecutive patients with IPMNs of the dorsal pancreatic head successfully underwent dorsal enucleation. The postoperative course was uneventful in the first patient, while the course of the second patient was complicated by a clinically relevant pancreatic fistula, delayed gastric emptying, and hospital discharge on day 35. CONCLUSION: This study shows the feasibility of a dorsal approach to the pancreatic head for enucleation as well as reconstruction by means of posterior Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy. In very selected cases in specialized centers, cystic lesions in the posterior aspect of the pancreatic head will become amenable to enucleation with preservation of pancreatic functionality. However, more research is needed to clarify postoperative outcomes of this approach.

Short- versus long-term complementary nutritional support via needle catheter jejunostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic resection is the only curative treatment for pancreatic cancer. Due to tumor cachexia most patients present with a weight loss at the time of diagnosis. Postoperatively the weight loss is often intensified. Tumor cachexia has an influence on the post-operative morbidity and mortality and on the overall survival. Complementary nutrition has a benefit on the mentioned issues. Needle catheter jejunostomy (NCJ) offers a well-tolerated and safe way for additional nutrition therapy. Until today, the optimal length of postoperative supplementary nutrition has not been evaluated. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to compare the effect of complementary nutritional support until discharge and until 8-weeks after discharge for patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The primary endpoint is the comprehensive complications index assessed 12 weeks postoperatively. The grading of the complications will be performed by a blinded assessor. The secondary endpoints are: quality of life, a nutritional assessment and the assessment of the effect on adjuvant therapies and 5-year survival. Follow-up visits are planned 1-, 3-, 6-, 12- and 60 month postoperatively. A total sample size of 140 patients was determined for the analysis of the primary endpoint. The confirmatory analysis will be performed based on the intention-to-treat principle. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The ethics committee of the University of Bern reviewed and approved this study on 22.08.2016 (KEK BE 322/14). The trial was registered in the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS00010237) on 25.08 2016. The present trial is the first study comparing short- and long-term complementary nutritional support after PD in randomized controlled study. The results will allow a postoperative nutritional therapy after PD based on high quality data. The results will be presented at relevant surgical conferences and written publications of the short-term results and long-term oncologic results are planned within surgical journals.

Case-matched study of lesser versus greater curvature approach in laparoscopic Warshaw pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND: In laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LapDP), the pancreas is accessed in a greater curvature approach (GCA). The lesser curvature approach (LCA) has been proposed in underweight patients. The study investigated the feasibility of LCA irrespective of the body mass index (BMI). METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive patients scheduled to undergo LapDP with the LCA. A matched cohort (1:1) underwent GCA. Spleen preservation was performed using the Warshaw technique. Splenic perfusion was intraoperatively assessed by indocyanine green (ICG) angiography. RESULTS: The LCA with LapDP was successful in 12/15 patients. In 2 cases, LCA had to be converted to GCA and in 1 patient to open surgery. The cohorts were well matched in sex (P = 1.0), age (P = .67), indication (P = 1.0), and median BMI (23.4 kg/m2 vs 24.8 kg/m2, P = .41). Splenic preservation was achieved in 14/15 patients with LCA and 4/15 patients with GCA (P = .33). In all LCA cases, ICG angiography indicated sufficient spleen perfusion. The groups had similar morbidity (P = 1.0) and hospital stay (P = .74). CONCLUSIONS: LCA was feasible in 80% irrespective of BMI and provided an excellent field of exposure. ICG angiography was feasible in the Warshaw technique. Its reliability should be evaluated in prospective studies.