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Gastroenterology Research

Original Article

Volume 12, Number 5, October 2019, pages 256-262

Pancreaticoduodenectomy With Arterial Approach of Total Mesenteric Resection of the Pancreas for Pancreatic Head Cancer

Pancreatic head cancer has the characteristics of rapid development, difficulty in early detection, high degree of malignancy, low resection rate and poor prognosis [1, 2]. With abdominal pain in the upper abdomen, yellowing of the skin mucosa, itching of the skin, weight loss, and so on, patients often have progressed to the advanced stage of pancreatic head cancer when they come to the hospital. In recent years, the incidence of pancreatic head cancer has increased significantly at home and abroad. After Whipple et al proposed the operation of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in 1935, this procedure has become the standard procedure for the treatment of pancreatic head cancer [3].

Although PD is the only radical surgical procedure for the treatment of pancreatic head cancer, the long-term recurrence rate and long-term survival rate of patients with pancreatic head cancer after PD are mainly dependent on radical R0 resection [4]. Related literature reports that the mortality of patients with pancreatic head cancer after PD is maintained at about 5% [5]. Due to the difficulty of PD operation, high technical requirements, complicated surgical methods, and short postoperative recurrence time, scholars at home and abroad have put forward various surgical operation techniques, and reduced PD by changing the way of PD and the operation mode. They try to improve R0 resection rate, reduce the recent recurrence rate of patients after PD, and increase the long-term survival rate of postoperative patients, such as through arterial priority and total mesopancreas excision (TMpE) resection.

In this paper we summarized the clinical data of 28 patients who underwent PD resection with TMpE from October 2015 to October 2016 in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Weifang People’s Hospital for pancreatic cancer. Compared with 32 patients with conventional PD, it is proved that the arterial priority approach TMpE resected PD ensures the safety of surgery, and this procedure has no significant effect on the incidence of postoperative complications compared with traditional PD, and can reduce the rate of recent tumor recurrence. TMpE is a safe, effective and feasible surgical method for the treatment of pancreatic head cancer. It provides further clinical reference data and theoretical basis for the treatment of pancreatic head cancer with TMpE resected by arterial priority.

This study included 60 patients with pancreatic head cancer. They were divided into two groups. Group A included patients with pancreatic head cancer who underwent PD treatment with TMpE resection of the arterial priority approach. There were 28 cases, including 16 men and 12 women, aged 44 - 66 years, with an average age of 57 years. Group B included patients with pancreatic head cancer who underwent traditional PD therapy alone. There were 19 men and 13 women, aged 48 - 69 years, with an average age of 55 years.

All data were from 32 patients with pancreatic head cancer who were treated in the Hepatobiliary Surgery Department of Weifang People’s Hospital from October 2015 to October 2016. The clinical data of the patients were retrospectively collected, including intra-operative evaluation index (operative time, intra-operative blood loss), R0 resection rate of postoperative pathological specimens, postoperative complications (postoperative bleeding, pancreatic leakage, biliary fistula (BF), infection, delayed gastric emptying, diarrhea), and the tumor recurrence time was observed after operation (at third, sixth, and 12th months). This study was approved by the Research Ethics Board (REB) of the hospital.

As for perioperative observation indicators, both groups recorded the operation time and intra-operative blood loss; postoperatively attention was paid to complications (postoperative infection, postoperative bleeding, pancreatic fistula (PF), BF, delayed gastric emptying (DGE), diarrhea and other complications), monitoring and treatment of common adverse reactions after surgery.

As for the post-discharge observation indicators, after the patients were discharged from the hospital, they were examined at the third, sixth, and 12th months. The upper abdominal computed tomography scan + intensive, carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199) was observed, and the tumor recurrence and metastasis were observed (Fig. 1). After discharge, patients’ condition changed and corresponding complications were followed up.

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Figure 1. Preoperative computed tomography findings of pancreatic head cancer without invasion of the venous system (a) or with invasion of the venous system (b).

The patients were placed in the supine position. After the general anesthesia was intubated, the right L-shaped incision was made into the abdominal cavity (AC). The liver and AC were routinely examined for metastasis. After the liver and intra-abdominal metastases were removed, the enlarged Kocker incision was made. At duodenal side peritoneum, we carefully distracted the duodenum and the posterior tissue of the pancreatic head, free until the front of the abdominal aorta (AA), inferior vena cava (IVC) and left kidney. After the vein was fully exposed, particular attention should be paid to the cleaning of connective tissue between AA and IVC. If the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was invaded by the tumor, the pancreaticoduodenal artery was separated from the SMA root, and then the pancreaticoduodenal artery was ligated and disconnected. The SMA was suspended with a silicone tube, so that the small branch of the SMA was ligated, and the SMA was further dissected to the border between the horizontal and the ascending parts of the duodenum. During this process, attention was paid to the right hepatic artery that may originate from the SMA (right branch). If the SMA was not invaded by the tumor, the pancreatic mesangium attached to the SMA could be cut, the tissues such as fat and lymph in front of the SMA and the right side were cleaned, the connective tissue between the SMA and the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) was swept, and the posterior wall of the SMV was exposed. Then the gastric collateral ligament was opened, and the omentum was disconnected from the inside of the gastric retinal vascular arch. After the stomach was separated, the small omental sac was opened, and the left edge of the hepatoduodenal ligament was directly reached. The first and third groups of lymph nodes were removed. After exposing and suspending the common hepatic artery at the upper edge of the pancreas, the gastroduodenal artery was found on the common hepatic artery of the pancreas, and then the gastroduodenal artery was ligated and cut off so that the hepatic artery along the common hepatic artery can be dissected. The right hepatic artery was ligated to the right gastric artery, the common hepatic artery was skeletal, the AC of the root was directly removed, and the lymph nodes on the AC were cleaned. The ligaments of the hepatic artery and its branches were connected to the hepatic artery, and the connective tissue on the left edge of the portal vein (PV) was removed. The hepatic duct was transected, the distal end of the common hepatic duct was ligated, and the connective tissue on the right side of the PV was gradually separated into the duodenum to the upper edge of the pancreas. We cleared the upper edge of the pancreas and the connective tissue behind the PV, and then completed the lymph node dissection. The jejunum was cut 10 - 15 cm from the ligament of the flex. The anterior wall of PV and SMV at the upper and lower edges of the pancreas was exposed, and the pancreatic neck was ligated and cut in front of it. The mesenteric membrane of the pancreas was dissected, and the anterior wall of AA was exposed. The anterior wall of AA was dissected up to AC, the connective tissue on the surface of AC was cut, the pancreatic mesangium attached to AC was cut, and the lymphatic tissue on the right side of AC was cleaned. If the SMV and PV were not invaded by the tumor, the branches of the PV and SMV can be ligated from the top to the bottom of the pancreatic head and from the right to the left. If the SMV and PV were suspected to be invaded, the SMV and PV can be pretreated. After the blocking band was placed, the branches were ligated and disconnected. The SMV and PV can be safely stripped only by the pressure-receiving person. The SMV and PV invaded can be anastomosed by the invaded vascular resection, and the whole PD specimen has been completely removed. The lymph nodes in the SMA root, the AC root and the AA were then further cleaned. Finally, pancreaticojejunostomy, gastrointestinal anastomosis, and biliary anastomosis were performed. After the AC was fully washed, two abdominal drainage tubes were placed at the anastomosis of the pancreas and the anastomosis of the biliary and intestines (Fig. 2a).

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Figure 2. PD with TMpE resection (a, b). Surgical procedures are described in the Methods section. PD: pancreaticoduodenectomy; TMpE: mesopancreas excision; SMV: superior mesenteric vein; SMA: superior mesenteric artery; PV: portal vein; CT: coeliacus truncus; LRV: left renal vein; MP: mesopancreas.

The patients were placed in the supine position. After the tracheal intubation was performed, the right L-shaped incision was made into the AC. The abdomen, the liver and the AC were routinely examined for metastasis. After the liver and intra-abdominal metastases were removed, the Kocker incision was performed and the 12 incision was made. We referred to the intestinal side of the peritoneum to detect whether PV/SMV was invaded by the tumor of the head of the pancreas. For patients who had not been invaded, the distal stomach and the common hepatic artery were dissected, the gastric duodenal artery was isolated, ligated, and the duodenal artery was removed, and then the gallbladder, the common hepatic duct, and the hepatoduodenal ligament were separated. We performed ligation, disconnection of the pancreatic neck, ligation, disconnection of the pancreatic head and pancreatic uncinate process and the vein branch between PV and SMV, cut the jejunum 10 - 15 cm from the flexor ligament. At this time, only the uncinate part of the pancreas was connected with the SMA, and the fibrous sheath of the SMA was cut longitudinally. After a little separation, the uncinate membrane was clearly revealed, and the occlusion, cutting, and ligation were gradually performed from top to bottom. With the tissue connection between the SMA and the pancreas and the arterial blood supply, attention was paid to the ligation of the pancreaticoduodenal artery alone; at this time the specimen was completely removed for patients with PV/SMV aggression; after rupturing the neck of the pancreas, the jejunum and uncinate membrane were cut off, and then the vessel of the invaded vein was resected and reconstructed. Finally, the operation was the same as group A (Fig. 2b).

The collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 19.0 statistical software package. All the measurement data were represented by (mean ± standard error of mean (SEM)). The t-test was used to compare the two groups of samples, and the Chi-square test and Fisher exact test were used to compare the count data. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant difference.

All patients in both groups had a smooth operation, and no deaths occurred during or after surgery. For group A, preoperative imaging examination revealed 11 patients with suspected PV/SMV infringement. For group B, preoperative imaging showed nine patients with suspected PV/SMV infringement. All 20 patients were treated. It was found that the tumor of the head of the pancreas was closely related to PV/SMV, and it was not easy to be stripped. Considering the possibility of invasion, there were two cases of PV invasion in group A, nine cases of invasion of SMV, one case of invasion of PV in group B, and eight cases of invasion of SMV. For example, 20 patients underwent intra-operative total anastomosis with acupuncture site. The relevant efficacy indicators of groups A and B were analyzed as follows.

The operation time of group A was 321.43 ± 43.03 min, and the intra-operative blood loss was 366.07 ± 109.76 mL; the operation time of group B was 333.66 ± 29.77 min, and the intra-operative blood loss was 557.81 ± 119.89 mL. There was no significant difference in operation time between the two groups (P > 0.05), while the difference in intra-operative blood loss between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05) (Table 1).

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Table 1. Intra-Operative Operation Time and Bleeding Volume Observation (Mean ± SEM, n = 28 in Group A, n = 32 in Group B)

The R0 resection rate was 85.71% (24/28) in group A and 62.50% (20/32) in group B. There was significant difference in the R0 resection rate between the two groups (P < 0.05) (Table 2).

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Table 2. R0 Resection Rate of Postoperative Specimen Pathology (n = 28 in Group A, n = 32 in Group B)

The incidence of postoperative complications in group A was 25.00% (7/28), including one case of infection, zero case of postoperative bleeding, two cases of PF, zero case of BF, three cases of diarrhea, one case of DGE; the incidence rate was 28.13% (9/32), including two cases of infection, one case of postoperative hemorrhage, two cases of PF, two cases of BF, two cases of diarrhea and two cases of DGE. There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups. No statistical significance was observed between the two groups (P > 0.05) (Table 3). Postoperative complications in both groups were cured by conservative medical treatment.

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Table 3. Comparison of Postoperative Complications (n = 28 in Group A, n = 32 in Group B)

The tumor recurrence rate at month 3 after operation was 0 (0/28) in group A and 3.57% (1/32) in group B. The recurrence rate of tumor at month 6 after operation was 3.57% (1/28) in group A and 12.50% (4/32) in group B. The recurrence rate at month 12 postoperatively was 7.14% (2/28) in group A, and 28.13% (9/32) in group B. There was no significant difference at months 3 and 6 post operation in the recurrence rate between the two groups (P > 0.05); however, there was a significant difference at month 12 post operation between them (P < 0.05) (Table 4).

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Table 4. Postoperative Tumor Recurrence (n = 28 in Group A, n = 32 in Group B)

Our study and others showed that the PD with TMpE via the artery approach may be applied as a standard care for the treatment of pancreatic head cancer. The advantages of PD with preferential arterial approach include reduction of unnecessary surgical injury, surgical bleeding and operation time, and early recurrence rate, as well as consistency with the “non-contact” principle of tumor resection.

First of all, according to the 2010 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines of China: SMA violation > 180° is an unresectable sign of pancreatic head cancer, while PV/SMV invasion can be reconstructed; SMA < 180° is borderline resectable, such as Achieving R0 resection will benefit the patient. The priority of the arterial approach to PD is to perform SMA exploration, which can be used to determine whether SMA is invaded by the tumor of the head of the pancreas and decide whether to continue the operation and reduce unnecessary surgical trauma.

Secondly, this procedure can reduce surgical bleeding and shorten the operation time: the PD with preferential arterial priority preferentially disconnects the arterial blood supply from the head of the pancreas. At the same time, the PD with preferential arterial approach can temporarily avoid the anterior wall of free PV and SMV, directly. The left side of the PV, SMV vascular area establishes a safe area for cutting the neck of the pancreas, thereby reducing arteriovenous hemorrhage and shortening the operation time. Especially for patients with suspected PV/SMV violations, it is the preferred surgical method. Dumitrascu found that PD through the preferential approach of the arteries can significantly shorten the operation time and greatly reduce the intra-operative blood loss of PD [6].

Thirdly, the traditional postoperative retroperitoneal rate of PD is high, and the PD with preferential arterial approach achieves complete resection of the right nerve, lymph, and adipose tissue with SMA and celiac trunk as the axis. The pancreatic total mesenteric resection is beneficial to achieve R0 resection of the retroperitoneal margin, reducing the recurrence of the retroperitoneal margin of the patient. The results of the R0 resection rate obtained in this study are consistent with this.

Lastly, it is more consistent with the “non-contact” principle of tumor resection. PD selection with preferential arterial approach reveals SMA, SMV from the lateral rear of the head of the pancreatic head tumor, disconnects the neck of the pancreas, and separates the uncinate process. Not only is it easier to expose the surgical field, but the suspension and pulling of the blood vessel can greatly reduce the extrusion and pulling of the tumor of the pancreatic head when the uncinate process is performed in the PD, and complete the “non-contact” resection of the tumor. Especially for patients with suspected violations of PV and SMV, the arterial priority approach satisfies the whole resection of the pancreatic head tumor under the principle of “non-contact” and avoids the spread of tumor cells through the PV. Gall et al reported other patients in the PD specimens were excised from the PV for microscopic tumor cell detection [7]. It was found that 83% of patients with traditional PD had access to tumor cells in the PV, while those in the non-contact group did not. The survival periods were 13 and 16.7 months, respectively.

There are several limitations of traditional PD. Currently, pancreatic cancer has become the top 10 cancers associated with cancer-related death [8]. PD is the only effective treatment for pancreatic head cancer. In more than 80 years since its inception, with the continuous research and development of clinical operations, it has been gradually found that traditional PD has certain deficiencies and defects.

The traditional PD is to exclude the liver and AC spread first, and then to perform Kocher incision, check the pancreas, PV and SMV for invasion, metastasis; if the exploration found that PV and SMV have not been invaded by the tumor, then giving patients PD radical resection of pancreatic head cancer should be considered. In the whole process of exploration of the AC, peripancreas, PV and SMV, because the tumor of the head of the pancreas is repeatedly squeezed by the surgeon, it may cause the tumor cells to fall into the blood and cause the blood to spread and metastasize.

The mortality of patients with pancreatic head cancer after PD is maintained at around 5% [5], but the incidence of early postoperative complications can be as high as 25-70% [9-11]. Combined with the relevant literature and a comprehensive analysis of postoperative complications in the two groups of patients in this study, the most common complications after PD were hemorrhage, PF, BF, infection, DGE, and so on. Arterial priority approach TMpE resection of PD in addition to common postoperative complications of PD also has a common complication of diarrhea; as reported in the literature [12], arterial priority approach TMpE resection of PD will increase the incidence of postoperative diarrhea.

The anatomy of the head of the pancreas is particularly suitable for the cancer. It is easy to involve the SMV or the PV. The pancreatic cancer that invades SMV/PV has been regarded as a contraindication for surgery. In recent years, with the improvement of surgical techniques, PD combined with SMV/PV resection has also become possible. Combined venous resection has not increased the incidence of perioperative complications, and can be obtained in the same way as standard surgery for the patients without venous involvement. Ravikumar et al also retrospectively analyzed the incidence and mortality of 230 patients with combined vascular resection of PD and 840 standard PD perioperative complications, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant [13]. Zhou et al collected data from 2,247 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent pancreatic resection in Europe, America, and Asia. Among them, 661 patients underwent vascular resection. There was no significant difference in perioperative complication rate compared with patients without combined vascular resection [14].

In fact, pancreatic cancer invasion of the PV and/or SMV does not imply the existence of extensive post-peritoneal invasion and distant metastasis. The inability of the tumor to separate from the blood vessels does not imply that the blood vessels are violated. The latter may be simply because the tumor is close to the PV and/or the SMV. Tumor growth involves blood vessels and forms inflammatory adhesions. It is not necessarily an invasive behavior of the tumor, and is essentially different from “blood transfer” [15]. Yekebas et al reported 100 cases of pancreatic cancer patients treated with combined vascular resection, and the final pathology showed that only 77 cases were true tumor invasion [16]. Shimoda et al reported that only 29 cases of combined vascular resection in all cases showed tumor invasion of blood vessels [17]. Recent studies by Rehders et al have pointed out that the appearance of peripheral blood tumor cells is not associated with vascular invasion. At the early stage of pancreatic cancer, tumor cells have spread through the small blood vessels of the pancreas to the systemic circulation, that is, the spread of tumor cells occurs before the large blood vessels invade [18]. It is thus recognized that the cancer of the head of the pancreas involves the mesenteric or PV, which is mainly related to the site of its occurrence. Venous involvement should not be a contraindication for surgical resection.

In conclusion, arterial priority approach for pancreatic total mesenteric resection of PD in the treatment of pancreatic head cancer can reduce intra-operative blood loss and save operation time without increasing postoperative complications. It can be used for venous system invasion of pancreatic head cancer. Combined vascular anastomosis provides effective technical support to ensure safe operation, and this procedure has improved the R0 resection rate of surgery and reduced the recurrence rate. Our findings indicated that it is a safe, effective and feasible surgical method for the treatment of pancreatic head cancer and is expected to be widely used in clinical surgery.

Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank the Imaging Department, Anesthesiology Department, Pathology Department and other relevant departments for their cooperation.

Financial Disclosure

This study is supported by the science and technology planning project of Weifang, Shandong province.

Conflict of Interest

All authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Informed Consent

We obtained informed consent from all subjects and license from ethical committee.

Author Contributions

FD is responsible for experimental design and design research; XW and XZ consulted relevant literature; FD and HL performed the operation; XW collected and analyzed experimental data and wrote the paper. All the authors read and approved the manuscript.

Abbreviations

PD: pancreaticoduodenectomy; TMpE: total mesopancreas excision; BF: biliary fistula; REB: Research Ethics Board; PF: pancreatic fistula; DGE: delayed gastric emptying; CA: carbohydrate antigen; AC: abdominal cavity; AA: abdominal aorta; IVC: inferior vena cava; SMA: superior mesenteric artery; SMV: superior mesenteric vein; PV: portal vein; SEM: standard error of mean; NCCN: National Comprehensive Cancer Network; CT: coeliacus truncus

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