Vascular resections in minimally invasive surgery for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)is characterised by poor oncological outcome and is the seventh cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.With the advances in surgical technology,oncological treatment,and critical care,extended pancreatic resections including vascular resections have become more frequently performed in specialised centres.Furthermore,the boundaries of resectability continue to be pushed in order to achieve a potentially curative approach in selected patients in combination with neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment strategies.This review gives an overview on the current state of venous and arterial resections in PDAC surgery with particular attention given to the minimally invasive approach.

Pancreatic cancer surgery with vascular resection: current concepts and perspectives

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease and resection at an early disease stage is the best chance of cure. Less than 20% of all patients present with a resectable tumor, while another 20% to 30% have locally advanced pancreatic cancer and the majority of the patient suffer from metastatic disease. Recently, it has been recognized that there is a 4th group of patients with so-called borderline resectable disease. Here, the tumor approaches or infiltrates the vascular axis (superior mesenteric vein/portal vein and/or superior mesenteric/hepatic artery/celiac trunk). While a large number of tumors with suspected venous infiltration can be resected with concomitant venous resection and reconstruction, arterial infiltration has been considered a contraindication to resection. Neoadjuvant treatment with combination chemotherapy protocols with or without radiotherapy has allowed for higher resection rates even in patients with arterial invasion. Here, we review the contemporary literature on extensive pancreatic cancer surgery with vascular resection and reconstruction.

Laparoscopic liver resection under hemihepatic vascular inflow occlusion using the lowering of hilar plate approach

BACKGROUND： With advances in technology, laparoscopic liver resection is widely accepted. Laparoscopic liver resection under hemihepatic vascular inflow occlusion has advantages over the conventional total hepatic inflow occlusion using the Pringle＇s maneuver, especially in patients with cirrhosis.METHOD： From November 2011 to August 2012, eight consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic liver resection under hemihepatic vascular inflow occlusion using the lowering of hilar plate approach with biliary bougie assistance.RESULTS： The types of liver resection included right hepatectomy（n1）, right posterior sectionectomy（n1）, left hepatectomy and common bile duct exploration（n1）, segment 4b resection（n1）, left lateral sectionectomy（n2）, and wedge resection（n2）. Four patients underwent right and 4 left hemihepatic vascular inflow occlusion. Four patients had cirrhosis. The mean operation time was 176.3 minutes. The mean time taken to achieve hemihepatic vascular inflow occlusion was 24.3minutes. The mean duration of vascular inflow occlusion was54.5 minutes. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 361 mL.No patient required blood transfusion. Postoperatively, one patient developed bile leak which healed with conservative treatment. No postoperative liver failure and mortality occurred. The mean hospital stay of the patients was 7 days.CONCLUSION： Our technique of hemihepatic vascular inflow vascular occlusion using the lowering of hilar plate approachwas safe, and it improved laparoscopic liver resection by minimizing blood loss during liver parenchymal transection.

Radical resection of pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PCa) is a disease with dismal prognosis, and the only possibility of cure, albeit small, is based on the combination of complete resection with negative histopathological margins (R0 resection) with adjuvant treatment. Therefore, a lot of effort has been made during the last decade to assess the role of extensive surgery in both local recurrence and survival of patients with PCa. DATA SOURCES: Medline search and manual cross- referencing were utilized to identify published evidence- based data for PCa surgery between 1973 and 2006, with emphasis to feasibility, efficacy, long-term survival, disease free survival, recurrence rates, pain relief and quality of life. RESULTS: Extended surgery is safe and feasible in high volume surgical centers with comparable short-term results. Organ preserving surgery is a main goal because of quality of life reasons and is performed whenever possible from the tumor extent. Concerning long-term survival major vein resection does not adversely affect outcome. To date, there are no changes in long-term survival attributed to the extended lymph node dissection. However, there is a benefit in locoregional control with fewer local recurrences and extended lymphadenectomy allows better staging for the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Extended PCa surgery is safe and feasible despite the inconclusive results in patient’s survival benefit. In the future, appropriately powered randomized trials of standard vs. extended resections may show improved outcomes for PCa patients.

Novel en-bloc resection of locally advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma: the Rex recess approach

Loco-regional recurrence after potentially curative resection remains a problem in hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Hilar dissection risks local spillage of tumor cells leading to suboptimal disease free survival. We have developed a new technique of radical resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma based on the distinctive anatomy of the Rex recess of the liver, which has been assessed in two patients with locally advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma. This technique included a right hepatectomy with en-bloc resection of the hepatoduodenal ligament and portal venous reconstruction to the left portal vein at the Rex recess. Both patients had R0 resection and have been disease-free for 26 and 38 months, respectively.

Aggressive behaviour of solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas in adults:A case report and review of the literature

Solid-pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) is a rare neoplasm of the pancreas that usually occurs in young females. It is generally considered a low-grade malignant tumor that can remain asymptomatic for several years. The occurrence of infiltrating varieties of SPT is around 10%-15%. Between 1986 and 2006, 282 cystic tumors of the pancreas were observed. Among them a SPT was diagnosed in 8 patients (2.8%) with only one infiltrating variety. This was diagnosed in a 49-year-old female 13 years after the sonographic evidence of a small pancreatic cystic lesion interpreted as a pseudocyst. The tumor invaded a long segment of the portal- mesenteric vein confluence, and was removed with a total pancreatectomy, resection of the portal vein and reconstruction with the internal jugular vein. Histological examination confirmed the R-0 resection of the primary SPT, although a vascular invasion was demonstrated. The postoperative course was uneventful, but 32 mo after surgery the patient experienced diffuse liver metastases. Chemotherapy with different drugs was started. The patient is alive and symptom-free, with stable disease, 75 mo after surgery. Twenty-five patients with invasion of the portal vein and/or of mesenteric vessels were retrieved from the literature, 16 recent patients with tumor relapse after potentially curative resection were also retrieved. The best treatment remains a radical resection whenever possible, even in locally advanced or metastatic disease. The role of chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy, is still to be defined.

Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: Definitions and management

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. While surgical resection remains the only curative option, more than 80% of patients present with unresectable disease. Unfortunately, even among those who undergo resection, the reported median survival is 15-23 mo, with a 5-year survival of approximately 20%. Disappointingly, over the past several decades, despite improvements in diagnostic imaging, surgical technique and chemotherapeutic options, only modest improvements in survival have been realized. Nevertheless, it remains clear that surgical resection is a prerequisite for achieving longterm survival and cure. There is now emerging consensus that a subgroup of patients, previously considered poor candidates for resection because of the relationship of their primary tumor to surrounding vasculature, may benefit from resection, particularly when preceded by neoadjuvant therapy. This stage of disease, termed borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, has become of increasing interest and is now the focus of a multiinstitutional clinical trial. Here we outline the history, progress, current treatment recommendations, and future directions for research in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.

One hundred and seventy-eight consecutive pancreatoduodenectomies without mortality:role of the multidisciplinary approach

BACKGROUND:Pancreatoduodenectomy offers the only chance of cure for patients with periampullary cancers.This,however,is a major undertaking in most patients and is associated with a significant morbidity and mortality.A multidisciplinary approach to the workup and follow-up of patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy was initiated at our institution to improve the diagnosis,resection rate,mortality and morbidity.We undertook the study to assess the effect of this approach on diagnosis,resection rates and short-term outcomes such as morbidity and mortality.METHODS:A prospective database of patients presenting with periampullary cancers to a single surgeon between April 2004 and April 2010 was reviewed.All cases were discussed at a multidisciplinary meeting comprising surgeons,gastroenterologists,radiologists,oncologists,radiation oncologists,pathologists and nursing staff.A standardized investigation and management algorithm was followed.Complications were graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.RESULTS:A total of 295 patients with a periampullary lesion were discussed and 178 underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (resection rate 60%).Sixty-one patients (34%) required either a vascular or an additional organ resection.Eighty-nine patients experienced complications,of which the commonest was blood transfusion (12%).Thirty-four patients (19%) had major complications,i.e.grade 3 or above.There was no in-hospital,30-day or 60-day mortality.CONCLUSIONS:Pancreatoduodenectomy can safely be performed in high-volume centers with very low mortality.The surgeon’s role should be careful patient selection,intensive preoperative investigations,use of a team approach,and an unbiased discussion at a multidisciplinary meeting to optimize the outcome in these patients.

Improving outcomes in pancreatic cancer: Key points in perioperative management

This review focused in the perioperative management of patients with pancreatic cancer in order to improve the outcome of the disease. We consider that the most controversial points in pancreatic cancer management are jaundice management, vascular resection and neo-adjuvant therapy. Preoperative biliary drainage is recommended only in patients with severe jaundice, as it can lead to infectious cholangitis, pancreatitis and delay in resection, which can lead to tumor progression. The development of a phase III clinical trial is mandatory to clarify the role of neo-adjuvant radiochemotherapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Venous resection does not adversely affect postoperative mortality and morbidity, therefore, the need for venous resection should not be a contraindication to surgical resection in selected patients. The data on arterial resection alone, or combined with vascular resection at the time of pancreatectomy are more heterogeneous, thus, patient age and comorbidity should be evaluated before a decision on operability is made. In patients undergoing R0 resection, arterial resection can also be performed.

Ex-situ liver surgery without veno-venous bypass

AIM:To evaluate the results of hepatic resection with ex-situ hypothermic perfusion and without veno-venous bypass.METHODS:In 3 patients with liver tumor,the degree of the inferior vena cava and/or main hepatic vein involvement was verified when the liver was dissociated in the operation.It was impossible to resect the tumors by the routine hepatectomy,so the patients underwent ex-situ liver surgery,vein cava replacement and hepatic autotransplantation without veno-venous bypass.All surgical procedures were carried out or supervised by a senior surgeon.A retrospective analysis was performed for the prospectively collected data from patients with liver tumor undergoing ex-situ liver surgery,vein cava replacement and hepatic autotransplantation without veno-venous bypass.We also compared our data with the 9 cases of Pichlmayr's group.RESULTS:Three patients with liver tumor were analysed.The first case was a 60-year-old female with a huge haemangioma located in S1,S4,S5,S6,S7 and S8 of liver;the second was a 64-year-old man with cholangiocarcinoma in S1,S2,S3 and S4 and the third one was a 55-year-old man with a huge cholangiocarcinoma in S1,S5,S7 and S8.The operation time for the three patients were 6.6,6.4 and 7.3 h,respectively.The anhepatic phases were 3.8,2.8 and 4.0 h.The volume of blood loss during operation were 1200,3100,2000 mL in the three patients,respectively.The survival periods without recurrence were 22 and 17 mo in the first two cases.As for the third case complicated with postoperative hepatic vein outflow obstruction,emergency hepatic vein outflow extending operation and assistant living donor liver transplantation were performed the next day,and finally died of liver and renal failure on the third day.Operation time(6.7 ± 0.47 h vs 13.7 ± 2.6 h) and anhepatic phase(3.5 ± 0.64 h vs 5.7 ± 1.7 h) were compared between Pichlmayr's group and our series(P = 0.78).CONCLUSION:Ex-situ liver resection and liver autotransplantation has shown a potential for treatment of complicated hepatic neoplasms that are unresectable by traditional procedures.

Resection of hepatocellular carcinoma after combined treatment with transarterial chemoembolization and sorafenib:a case report and literature review

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with inferior vena cava(IVC)invasion and metastatic lymph node metastases has a poor prognosis,and surgical resection is seldom indicated.We report how an initially unresectable HCC in a 36-year-old Chinese male with distant lymph node metastases and tumor thrombosis in the IVC was successfully downstaged and ultimately resected together with the IVC.After the disease had been downstaged,curative resection of the tumor and IVC was conducted with immediate reconstruction of the IVC.The patient has survived for more than 2 years after the surgery.In conclusion,tumor and IVC resection can cure metastatic HCC after downstaging treatment combining sorafenib and transarterial chemoembolization.

Modified Appleby:experience improves short-term results,but is it enough?

The aim of this retrospective study(1)from one of the largest European centres of pancreatic surgery was to report the surgical and oncological results of a series of 71 distal pancreatectomies with monobloc resection of the celiac trunk(DP-CAR or modified Appleby)performed for locally advanced pancreatic cancer,over almost 20 years and comparing two periods:before 2013(n=16)and after 2014(n=55).

An extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma mimicking a primary liver cancer

Despite doctors’every effort to be vigilant when diagnosing,sometimes a preoperative diagnosis is disproved by postoperative pathological examination.A patient was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and received surgery as treatment.On operation,a solitary retroperitoneal mass rather than a liver lesion was seen.On histopathological examination,the retroperitoneal mass was found to be an extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma.