Trends and outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary tumors: A 25-year single-center study of 1000 consecutive cases

AIM To evaluate the evolution, trends in surgical approaches a n d r e c o n s t r u c t i o n t e c h n i q u e s, a n d i m p o r t a n t lessons learned from performing 1000 consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomies(PDs) for periampullary tumors.METHODS This is a retrospective review of the data of all patients who underwent PD for periampullary tumor during the period from January 1993 to April 2017. The data were categorized into three periods, including early period(1993-2002), middle period(2003-2012), and late period(2013-2017).RESULTS The frequency showed PD was increasingly performed after the year 2000. With time, elderly, cirrhotic and obese patients, as well as patients with uncinate process carcinoma and borderline tumor were increasingly selected for PD. The median operative time and postoperative hospital stay decreased significantly over the periods. Hospital mortality declined significantly, from 6.6% to 3.1%. Postoperative complications significantly decreased, from 40% to 27.9%. There was significant decrease in postoperative pancreatic fistula in the second 10 years, from 15% to 12.7%. There was a significant improvement in median survival and overall survival among the periods.CONCLUSION Surgical results of PD significantly improved, with mortality rate nearly reaching 3%. Pancreatic reconstruction following PD is still debatable. The survival rate was also improved but the rate of recurrence is still high, at 36.9%.

Predictors of long term survival after hepatic resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma:A retrospective study of 5-year survivors

AIM:To determine predictors of long term survival after resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma(HC) by comparing patients surviving > 5 years with those who survived < 5 years.METHODS:This is a retrospective study of patients with pathologically proven HC who underwent surgical resection at the Gastroenterology Surgical Center,Mansoura University,Egypt between January 2002 and April 2013.All data of the patients were collected from the medical records.patients were divided into two groups according to their survival:patients surviving less than 5 years and those who survived > 5 years.RESULTS:There were 34(14%) long term survivors(5 year survivors) among the 243 patients.Fiveyear survivors were younger at diagnosis than those surviving less than 5 years(mean age,50.47 ± 4.45 vs 54.59 ± 4.98,p = 0.001).Gender,clinical presentation,preoperative drainage,preoperative serum bilirubin,albumin and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase were similar between the two groups.The level of CA 19-9 was significantly higher in patients surviving < 5 years(395.71 ± 31.43 vs 254.06 ± 42.19,p = 0.0001).Univariate analysis demonstrated nine variables to be significantly associated with survival > 5 year,includingyoung age(p = 0.001),serum CA19-9(p = 0.0001),non-cirrhotic liver(p = 0.02),major hepatic resection(p = 0.001),caudate lobe resection(p = 0.006),well differentiated tumour(p = 0.03),lymph node status(0.008),R0 resection margin(p = 0.0001) and early postoperative liver cell failure(p = 0.02).CONCLUSION:Liver status,resection of caudate lobe,lymph node status,R0 resection and CA19-9 were demonstrated to be independent risk factors for long term survival.

Impact of cirrhosis on surgical outcome after pancreaticoduodenectomy

AIM:To elucidate surgical outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD)in patients with liver cirrhosis.METHODS:We studied retrospectively all patients who underwent PD in our centre between January 2002and December 2011.Group A comprised patients with cirrhotic livers,and Group B comprised patients with non-cirrhotic livers.The cirrhotic patients had ChildPugh classes A and B(patient’s score less than 8).Preoperative demographic data,intra-operative data and postoperative details were collected.The primary outcome measure was hospital mortality rate.Secondary outcomes analysed included duration of the operation,postoperative hospital stay,postoperative morbidity and survival rate.RESULTS:Only 67/442 patients(15.2%)had cirrhotic livers.Intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion were significantly higher in group A(P=0.0001).The mean surgical time in group A was significantly longer than that in group B(P=0.0001).Wound complications(P=0.02),internal haemorrhage(P=0.05),pancreatic fistula(P=0.02)and hospital mortality(P=0.0001)were significantly higher in the cirrhotic patients.Postoperative stay was significantly longer in group A(P=0.03).The median survival was 19 mo in group A and 24 mo in group B.Portal hypertension(PHT)was present in 16/67 cases of cirrhosis(23.9%).The intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion were significantly higher in patients with PHT(P=0.001).Postoperative morbidity(0.07)and hospital mortality(P=0.007)were higher in cirrhotic patients with PHT.CONCLUSION:Patients with periampullary tumours and well-compensated chronic liver disease should be routinely considered for PD at high volume centres with available expertise to manage liver cirrhosis.PD is associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity in patients with liver cirrhosis;therefore,it is only recommended in patients with Child A cirrhosis without portal hypertension.

Tailored pancreatic reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a single-center experience of 892 cases

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic reconstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD) is still debatable even for pancreatic surgeons. Ideally, pancreatic reconstruction after PD should reduce the risk of postoperative pancreatic fistula(POPF) and its severity if developed with preservation of both exocrine and endocrine pancreatic functions. It must be tailored to control the morbidity linked to the type of reconstruction.This study was to show the best type of pancreatic reconstruction according to the characters of pancreatic stump. METHODS: We studied all patients who underwent PD in our center from January 1993 to December 2015. Patients were categorized into three groups depending on the presence of risk factors of postoperative complications: low-risk group(absent risk factor), moderate-risk group(presence of one risk factor) and high-risk group(presence of two or more risk factors). RESULTS: A total of 892 patients underwent PD for resection of periampullary tumor. BMI >25 kg/m~2, cirrhotic liver, soft pancreas, pancreatic duct diameter <3 mm, and pancreatic duct location from posterior edge <3 mm are risk variables for development of postoperative complications. POPF developed in 128(14.3%) patients. Delayed gastric emptying occurred in 164(18.4%) patients, biliary leakage developed in 65(7.3%) and pancreatitis presented in 20(2.2%). POPF in low-, moderate-and high-risk groups were 26(8.3%), 65(15.7%) and 37(22.7%) patients, respectively. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were significantly lower with pancreaticogastrostomy(PG) in high-risk group, while pancreaticojejunostomy(PJ) decreases incidence of postoperative steatorrhea in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Selection of proper pancreatic reconstruction according to the risk factors of patients may reduce POPF and postoperative complications and mortality. PG is superior to PJ as regards short-term outcomes in high-risk group but PJ provides better pancreatic function in all groups and therefore, PJ is superior in low-and moderate-risk groups.

Intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A useful tool in the hands of the hepatobiliary surgeon

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography(ERCP) combined with laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC) forpatients with gall bladder stones(GS) and common bile duct stones(CBDS).METHODS: Patients treated for GS with CBDS were included. LC and intraoperative transcystic cholangiogram(TCC) were performed in most of the cases. Intraoperative ERCP was done for cases with proven CBDS.RESULTS: Eighty patients who had GS with CBDS were included. LC was successful in all cases. Intraoperative TCC revealed passed CBD stones in 4 cases so intraoperative ERCP was performed only in 76 patients. Intraoperative ERCP showed dilated CBD with stones in 64 cases(84.2%) where removal of stones were successful; passed stones in 6 cases(7.9%); short lower end stricture with small stones present in two cases(2.6%) which were treated by removal of stones with stent insertion; long stricture lower 1/3 CBD in one case(1.3%) which was treated by open hepaticojejunostomy; and one case(1.3%) was proved to be ampullary carcinoma and whipple's operation was scheduled. CONCLUSION: The hepatobiliary surgeon should be trained on ERCP as the third hand to expand his field of therapeutic options.

Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis: Risk factors and predictors of severity

AIMTo detect risk factors for post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) and investigate the predictors of its severity. METHODSThis is a prospective cohort study of all patients who underwent ERCP. Pre-ERCP data, intraoperative data, and post-ERCP data were collected. RESULTSThe study population consisted of 996 patients. Their mean age at presentation was 58.42 (&plusmn; 14.72) years, and there were 454 male and 442 female patients. Overall, PEP occurred in 102 (10.2%) patients of the study population; eighty (78.4%) cases were of mild to moderate degree, while severe pancreatitis occurred in 22 (21.6%) patients. No hospital mortality was reported for any of PEP patients during the study duration. Age less than 35 years (P = 0.001, OR = 0.035), narrower common bile duct (CBD) diameter (P = 0.0001) and increased number of pancreatic cannulations (P = 0.0001) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of PEP. CONCLUSIONPEP is the most frequent and devastating complication after ERCP. Age less than 35 years, narrower median CBD diameter and increased number of pancreatic cannulations are independent risk factors for the occurrence of PEP. Patients with these risk factors are candidates for prophylactic and preventive measures against PEP.