Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with or without splenectomy: spleen-preservation does not increase morbidity

BACKGROUND: The indications for laparoscopic spleen- preserving distal pancreatectomy (LSPDP) and its morbidity compared with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (LDPS) are ill-defined. This study aimed to share the indications for spleen-preservation and investigate the safety and outcome of LSPDP at our institution. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who were scheduled to receive laparoscopic surgery for distal pancreatic lesions was conducted. The indications, surgical procedures, intra-operative data, and outcomes of the two procedures were collected and compared by statistical analysis. RESULTS: LDPS and LSPDP were successfully performed in 16 and 21 patients respectively, whereas they were converted to open surgery in 9 patients. There were no significant differences in age, gender, operation time, blood loss, and conversion rate between the LDPS and LSPDP groups. The mean tumor size showed an inter-group difference (5.05 vs 2.53 cm, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in complication and morbidity rates between the two groups. All patients remained alive without recurrence during a follow-up of 9 to 67 months (median 35).CONCLUSION: LSPDP has a morbidity and outcome comparable to LDPS.

Laparoscopic spleen-preserving total pancreatectomy for the treatment of low-grade malignant pancreatic tumors:Two case reports and review of literature

BACKGROUND Function-preserving pancreatectomy can improve the long-term quality of life of patients with benign or low-grade malignant tumors,such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms(IPMNs)and mucinous cystic neoplasms.However,there is limited literature on laparoscopic spleen-preserving total pancreatectomy(LSpTP)due to technical difficulties.CASE SUMMARY Patient 1 was a 51-year-old male diagnosed with IPMN based on preoperative imaging,showing solid nodules in the pancreatic head and diffuse dilation of the main pancreatic duct with atrophy of the distal pancreas.We performed L-SpTP with preservation of the splenic vessels,and the postoperative pathology report revealed IPMN with invasive carcinoma.Patient 2 was a 60-year-old male with multiple cystic lesions in the pancreatic head and body.L-SpTP was performed,and intraoperatively,the splenic vein was injured and required ligation.Postoperative pathology revealed a mucinous cystic tumor of the pancreas with low-grade dysplasia.Both patients were discharged on postoperative day 7,and there were no major complications during the perioperative period.CONCLUSION We believe that L-SpTP is a safe and feasible treatment for low-grade malignant pancreatic tumors,but more case studies are needed to evaluate its safety,efficacy,and long-term outcomes.

Anatomy and influence of the splenic artery in laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic lymphadenectomy

AIM: To investigate the splenic hilar vascular anatomy and the influence of splenic artery(Sp A) type in laparoscopic total gastrectomy with spleen-preserving splenic lymphadenectomy(LTGSPL).METHODS:The clinical anatomy data of 317 patients with upper- or middle-third gastric cancer who underwent LTGSPL in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2013 were collected. The patients were divided into two groups(concentrated group vs distributed group) according to the distance between the splenic artery's furcation and the splenic hilar region. Then, the anatomical layout, clinicopathologic characteristics, intraoperative variables, and postoperative variables were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: There were 205 patients with a concentrated type(64.7%) and 112 patients with a distributed type(35.3%) Sp A. There were 22 patients(6.9%) with a single branch of the splenic lobar vessels, 250(78.9%) with 2 branches, 43(13.6%) with 3 branches, and 2 patients(0.6%) with multiple branches. Eighty sevenpatients(27.4%) had type?Ⅰ?splenic artery trunk, 211(66.6%) had type Ⅱ, 13(4.1%) had type Ⅲ, and 6(1.9%) had type Ⅳ. The mean splenic hilar lymphadenectomy time(23.15 ± 8.02 vs 26.21 ± 8.84 min; P = 0.002), mean blood loss resulting from splenic hilar lymphadenectomy(14.78 ± 11.09 vs 17.37 ± 10.62 m L; P = 0.044), and number of vascular clamps used at the splenic hilum(9.64 ± 2.88 vs 10.40 ± 3.57; P = 0.040) were significantly lower in the concentrated group than in the distributed group. However, the mean total surgical time, mean total blood loss, and the mean number of harvested splenic hilar lymph nodes were similar in both groups(P > 0.05 for each comparison). There were also no significant differences in clinicopathological and postoperative characteristics between the groups(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: It is of value for surgeons to know the splenic hilar vascular anatomy when performing LTGSPL. Patients with concentrated type Sp A may be optimal patients for training new surgeons.

Laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymphadenectomy in 108 consecutive patients with upper gastric cancer

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar (No. 10) lymphadenectomy to treat advanced upper gastric cancer (AUGC).

Minimally invasive spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy: Does splenic vessel preservation have better postoperative outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND： Minimally invasive spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy （SPDP） can be performed with either splenic vessel preservation （SVP） or resection [Warshaw procedure （WP）]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative clinical outcomes of patients undergoing both methods. DATA SOURCES： Database search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar was performed （2000-2014）; key bibliographies were reviewed. Qualified studies compar- ing patients undergoing SPDP with either SVP or WP, and as- sessing postoperative complications were included. Calculated pooled risk ratio （RR） with the corresponding 95% confidence interval （CI） by random effects methods were used in the meta-analyses. RESULTS： The search yielded 215 studies, of which only 14 observational studies met our selection criteria. The studies included 943 patients in total; 652 （69%） underwent SVP and 291 （31%） underwent WP. Overall, there was a lower incidence of splenic infarction （RR=0.17; 95% Ch 0.09-0.33; P〈0.001）, gastric varices （RR=0.16; 95% Ch 0.05-0.51; P=0.002）, and intra/postoperative splenectomy （RR=0.20; 95% Ch 0.08-0.49; P〈0.001） in the SVP group. There was no difference in in- cidence of pancreatic fistula （WP vs SVP, 23.6% vs 22.9%;P=0.37）, length of hospital stay, operative time or blood loss. There was moderate cross-study heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS： SVP is a safe, efficient and feasible technique that may be used to preserve the spleen. WP may be more suit- able for large tumors dose to the splenic hilum or those associ- ated with splenomegaly. Randomized clinical trials are justified to examine the long-term benefits of SVP-SPDP.

Successful treatment of a pancreatic schwannoma by spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy

Schwannomas are neurogenic tumors that arise from the neural sheaths of peripheral nerves. These tumors can be located in any area of the human body; the most common locations are the head, neck, trunk and extremities. Pancreatic schwannomas are very rare. Over the past 40 years, only 67 cases of pancreatic schwannomas have been reported in the English literature. Here we present a case of pancreatic schwannoma in a 62-year-old male. The tumor was revealed by ultrasound and computed tomography in the neck and body of the pancreas. An accurate diagnosis was difficult to obtain preoperatively. The patient consented to the performance of a laparotomy, and the mass was found in the neck and body of the pancreas and successfully treated using a spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with splenic artery and vein preservation. The procedure has only been reported in one other case of pancreatic schwannoma; here we present the second reported case. Macroscopically, the tumor was well circumscribed, gray-white in color and 3.3 cm x 2.8 cm in size. Microscopically, the tumor cells were spindle-shaped and had a palisading arrangement with no atypia, which are results compatible with a benign tumor. Both hypercellular and hypocellular areas were visible. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive for S-100 protein. The tumor was definitively diagnosed as a schwannoma of the pancreatic neck and body. The patient was followed for 72 mo and has been doing well without any complications.

Male gender and increased body mass index independently predicts clinically relevant morbidity after spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy

AIM To identify risk factors for clinically relevant complications after spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy(SPDP). No previous studies explored potential predictors of morbidity after SPDP.METHODS The data of 41 patients who underwent a SPDP in a single surgical center between 2000 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed from a prospectively maintained electronic database established in our Department of Surgery. The database included demographic, clinical, bioumoral, pathological, intraoperative and postoperative parameters. Uni-and multivariate ana-lyses were performed to assess potential predictors of clinically relevant morbidity. Postoperative morbidity was defined as in-hospital complications and mortality was assessed at 90 d. Clinically relevant morbidity was defined as complication ≥ grade 2 Dindo.RESULTS Overall morbidity rate was 34.1%(14 patients): grade Ⅰ(6 patients, 14.6%), grade Ⅱ(2 patients, 4.8%), grade Ⅲa(1 patient, 2.4%), and grade Ⅲb(5 patients, 12.2%). A number of 5 patients(12.2%) required re-laparotomy for postoperative complications. There was no postoperative mortality. Thus, at least one clinically relevant complication occurred in 8 patients(19.5%). Univariate analysis identified male gender(P = 0.034), increased body mass index(P = 0.002) and neuroendocrine pathology(P = 0.013) as statistically significant risk factors. Multivariate analysis identified male gender [odds ratio(OR): 1.29, 95%CI: 1.07-1.55, P = 0.005] and increased body mass index(OR: 23.18, 95%CI: 1.72-310.96, P = 0.018) as the only independent risk factors of clinically relevant morbidity after SPDP.CONCLUSION Male gender and increased body mass index are independently associated with increased risk of clinically relevant morbidity after SPDP. These findings may assist a surgeon in clinical decision-making to better select patients suitable for SPDP.

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy is as safe and feasible as open procedure:A meta-analysis

AIM:To evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy(LDP) compared with open distal pancreatectomy(ODP).METHODS:Meta-analysis was performed using the databases,including PubMed,the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,Web of Science and BIOSIS Previews.Articles should contain quantitative data of the comparison of LDP and ODP.Each article was reviewed by two authors.Indices of operative time,spleen-preserving rate,time to fluid intake,ratio of malignant tumors,postoperative hospital stay,incidence rate of pancreatic fistula and overall morbidity rate were analyzed.RESULTS:Nine articles with 1341 patients who underwent pancreatectomy met the inclusion criteria.LDP was performed in 501(37.4%) patients,while ODP was performed in 840(62.6%) patients.There were significant differences in the operative time,time to fluid intake,postoperative hospital stay and spleen-preserving rate between LDP and ODP.There was no difference between the two groups in pancreatic fistula rate [random effects model,risk ratio(RR) 0.996(0.663,1.494),P = 0.983,I2 = 28.4%] and overall morbidity rate [random effects model,RR 0.81(0.596,1.101),P = 0.178,I2 = 55.6%].CONCLUSION:LDP has the advantages of shorter hospital stay and operative time,more rapid recovery and higher spleen-preserving rate as compared with ODP.

Traumatic pancreatic fistula with sinistral portal hypertension:Surgical management

Combined ductal and vascular injuries are awesome complications of pancreatic injury.We report on a 29-year-old male unrestrained driver who sustained a blunt abdominal injury from the steering wheel in a high velocity head-on car collision.He developed a pancreatic fistula,portosplenic venous thrombosis and sinistral portal hypertension as a result of complete duct disruption at the pancreatic neck.We describe a safe surgical strategy of spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy after failed medical and endoscopic management.

Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging for spleen preservation in laparoscopic splenic artery aneurysm resection:A case report

BACKGROUND Splenic artery aneurysm(SAA)is a rare vascular lesion conventionally treated by resection or interventional therapy.The surgical procedure usually involves splenectomy,and interventional therapy may cause post-embolization syndromes.Preservation of the spleen and its function is rarely reported during the management of SAA.CASE SUMMARY We report a patient with an asymptomatic SAA(3.5 cm in diameter),which was en-bloc resected laparoscopically using indocyanine green(ICG)fluorescence imaging to preserve the spleen and its function.CONCLUSION ICG fluorescence imaging for spleen preservation in laparoscopic SAA resection is safe and may be beneficial in avoiding splenectomy and maintaining splenic function.

Distribution of splenic artery lymph nodes and splenic hilar lymph nodes

BACKGROUND Total gastrectomy with splenectomy is the standard treatment for advanced proximal gastric cancer with greater-curvature invasion.As an alternative to splenectomy,laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymph node(LN)dissection(SPSHLD)has been developed.With SPSHLD,the posterior splenic hilar LNs are left behind.AIM To clarify the distribution of splenic hilar(No.10)and splenic artery(No.11p and 11d)LNs and to verify the possibility of omitting posterior LN dissection in laparoscopic SPSHLD from an anatomical standpoint.METHODS Hematoxylin&eosin-stained specimens were prepared from six cadavers,and the distribution of LN No.10,11p,and 11d was evaluated.In addition,heatmaps were constructed and three-dimensional reconstructions were created to visualize the LN distribution for qualitative evaluation.RESULTS There was little difference in the number of No.10 LNs between the anterior and posterior sides.For LN No.11p and 11d,the anterior LNs were more numerous than the posterior LNs in all cases.The number of posterior LNs increased toward the hilar side.Heatmaps and three-dimensional reconstructions showed that LN No.11p was more abundant in the superficial area,while LN No.11d and 10 were more abundant in the deep intervascular area.CONCLUSION The number of posterior LNs increased toward the hilum and was not neglectable.Thus,surgeons should consider that some posterior No.10 and No.11d LNs may remain after SPSHLD.

Spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the spleen vessels

Background Distal pancreatectomy traditionally included splenectomy; the spleen, however, is an important organ in the immunologic defense of the host and is worthy of preservation. The aim of this research was to study the feasibility,safety and clinical effects of spleen and splenic vessel-preserving distal pancreatectomy.Methods A retrospective review was performed for 26 patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy for benign or low grade malignant disease with splenectomy （n=13） or splenic preservation （n=13） at the First Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Guangdong General Hospital in Southern China from May 2002 to April 2009.Results All 26 pancreatectomies with splenectomy or splenic preservation were performed successfully. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in mean operative time （（172±47） minutes vs. （157±52） minutes, P ＞0.05）, intraoperative estimated blood loss （（183±68） ml vs. （160±51） ml, P ＞0.05）, incidence of noninfectious and infection complication and mean length of postoperative hospital stay （（10.1±2.2） days vs. （12.1 ±4.6） days, P ＞0.05）. The platelet counts examined one week after operation were significantly higher in the distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy group than the other group （（37.3±12.8）×109/L vs. （54.7±13.2）×109/L, P ＜0.05）.Conclusions Spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy appears to be a feasible and safe procedure. In selected cases of benign or low-grade malignant disease, spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy is recommended.