Abstract

Laparoscopic Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Cancer

Yoshiharu Nakamura, Akira Matsushita, Hiroki Sumiyoshi, Kazuya Yamahatsu, Takayuki Aimoto and Eiji Uchida

Introduction: The recent advances of surgical techniques and technology allow minimally invasive surgery to be applied in patients with benign and malignant diseases of the pancreas. About malignancy, we still have concerns regarding the oncologic adequacy of laparoscopic pancreatectomy, with fewer studies reporting oncologic outcomes. We describe the surgical technique to improve the curability of laparoscopic pancreatectomy in the treatment of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and focuse on the oncologic outcomes and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for PDAC patients.

Methods: From January 2004, patients who had been diagnosed with the tumor in the pancreas without suspicion for vascular involvement were eligible for laparoscopic pancreatectomy at Nippon Medical School. In Lap- PD for PDAC patients, we apply laparoscopic left mesenteric approach, which enables both accurate laparoscopic lymph node retrieval and complete pancreatic nerve plexuses dissection to achieve R0 resection. In Lap-DP for PDAC patients, we perform retroperitoneal tissue dissection, which often includes adrenalectomy.

Results: We have experienced laparoscopic pancreatectomies in 148 patients including 25 PDAC patients. In the 25 patients with PDAC, the mean number of lymph nodes dissected was 22.4 ± 12.6 (6–57). Metastasis to the lymph nodes was observed in 8 of the 25 patients (32%). R0 resection was performed in 22 patients (88%). The median follow-up period for the PDAC patients undergoing laparoscopic pancreatectomy was 16 months (1–71 months). Six of the 25 patients died, at 2.5 months (stage IV), 15 months (stage IA), 29 months (stage IIB), 33 months (stage IIB), 24 months (stage IIA), and 18 months (stage IIB). Surviving 19 patients had no recurrence.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer seems to achieve similar oncologic and longterm outcomes to open approach.