Search

Background: Conversion surgery (CS) is expected as a new therapeutic strategy for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer (UR-PC). We analyzed outcomes of CS for patients with UR-PC and evaluated the survival benefit of CS., Methods: Thirty-four patients diagnosed with UR-PC according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline underwent CS in our hospital. Resectability was considered by multimodal images in patients who underwent nonsurgical treatment (NST) for more than 6 months. CS was performed only in patients who were judged to be able to undergo R0 resection., Results: Twenty-six patients had locally advanced PC, and eight had distant metastases. The median duration of NST was 9 (range 5-44) months. R0 resection was achieved in 30 patients (88.2%). Six patients (17.6%) showed Evans grade ≥III. Three- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates from initial treatment were 74% and 56.9%, respectively, with median survival time (MST) of 5.3 years. The actual 5-year OS rate in 19 patients was 47.4% with an MST of 4.0 years. Patients with Evans grade ≥III had a better prognosis than those with Evans grade

Background: The high frequency of surgical site infections (SSIs) after hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery is a problem that needs to be addressed. This prospective, randomized, controlled study examined whether perioperative prophylactic use of antibiotics based on preoperative bile culture results in HPB surgery could decrease SSI., Methods: Participants comprised 126 patients who underwent HPB (bile duct, gallbladder, ampullary, or pancreatic) cancer surgery with biliary reconstruction at Hokkaido University Hospital between August 2008 and March 2013 (UMIN Clinical Trial Registry #00001278). Before surgery, subjects were randomly allocated to a targeted group administered antibiotics based on bile culture results or a standard group administered cefmetazole. The primary endpoint was SSI rates within 30 days after surgery. Secondary endpoint was SSI rates for each operative procedure., Results: Of the 126 patients, 124 were randomly allocated (targeted group, n = 62; standard group, n = 62). Frequency of SSI after surgery was significantly lower in the targeted group (27 patients, 43.5%) than in the standard group (44 patients, 71.0%; P = 0.002). Among patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and hepatectomy, SSI occurred significantly less frequently in the targeted group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.025, respectively)., Conclusions: This study demonstrated that preoperative bile culture-targeted administration of prophylactic antibiotics decreased SSIs following HBP surgery with biliary reconstruction., (© 2017 Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.)

Background: The surgical indications for patients with pancreatic head cancer (PHC) with clinical portal vein (PV) invasion (cPV) remain controversial. The present study aimed to determine the ability of computed tomography (CT) to diagnose pathological PV involvement (pPV) in PHC., Methods: We evaluated the morphological features (length and circumference) and two sets of diagnostic criteria for cPV determined from preoperative CT findings of 112 consecutive patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for PHC. This study is listed in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR; No: UMIN000016827)., Results: Five patients were excluded because enhanced CT data were missing. Morphological features have low diagnostic ability for pPV. We diagnosed 67 patients with cPV based on our diagnostic criteria and those of Klauss, and 42 of them had pPV. The negative predictive values of these diagnostic criteria for pPV were satisfactory (>95%) and the positive predictive value was relatively low (61.2%). Postoperative survival could be predicted based on the cPV type., Conclusion: An accurate diagnosis of pPV based on morphological features determined by preoperative CT is difficult. However, preoperative CT appears useful for selecting patients with PHC who could be candidates for pancreaticoduodenectomy with or without PV resection., (© 2016 Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.)

Background: Whether concomitant hepatic artery resection (HAR) improves the prognosis for advanced perihilar cholangiocarcinoma remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to compare short- and long-term surgical results of HAR versus standard resection (SR) for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma using propensity score matching., Methods: Among 209 patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma patients who underwent resection in our department, 28 patients underwent HAR, and the remaining 181 patients underwent SR. To adjust for differences in clinicopathological factors, including difficulty in surgery, between groups, propensity score matching was used at a 1:1 ratio, resulting in a comparison of 24 patients per group. The study protocols were approved by our institutional review board (015-0365), enrolled in UMIN-CTR (No: UMIN000019927), and conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki., Results: No significant differences were seen in overall incidence of postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥IIIa: 37.5% in SR group vs. 62.5% in HAR group; P = 0.080), except for postoperative liver abscess formation (P = 0.020). Five-year overall survival rates were 30.3% and 20.4%, respectively. No significant difference in overall survival rate was apparent between the SR and HAR groups (P = 0.150)., Conclusion: Despite being a demanding procedure, concomitant HAR appears feasible for selected patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma., (© 2016 Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.)

Due to advances in endoscopic equipment and techniques, preoperative endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) has been developed to serve as an alternative to percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). This study sought to clarify the benefit of EBD in comparison to PTBD in patients who underwent radical resections of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. One hundred and forty-one patients underwent radical surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma between 2000 and 2008 were retrospectively divided into two groups based on the type of preoperative biliary drainage, PTBD (n = 67) or EBD (n = 74). We investigated if the different biliary drainage methods affected postoperative survival and mode of recurrence after median observation period of 82 months. The survival rate for patients who underwent EBD was significantly higher than those who had PTBD (P = 0.004). Multivariate analysis revealed that PTBD was one of the independent factors predictive of poor survival (hazard ratio: 2.075, P = 0.003). Patients with PTBD more frequently developed peritoneal seeding in comparison to those who underwent EBD (P = 0.0003). PTBD was the only independent factor predictive of peritoneal seeding. In conclusion, EBD might confer an improved prognosis over PTBD due to prevention of peritoneal seeding, and is recommended as the initial procedure for preoperative biliary drainage in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma., (© 2014 Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.)

Background/purpose: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) often invades the hepatic hilum and even small tumors can cause obstructive jaundice. Operative intervention for GBC with obstructive jaundice is sometimes not recommended because it is associated with a poor prognosis. However, the extended procedure is recommended for patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC). We therefore compared the postoperative survival of patients with GBC invading the hepatic hilum with that with HC., Methods: Between 1998 and 2008, 27 patients with GBC invasion of the hepatic hilum (hGBC) and 124 with HC underwent surgical resection with curative intent in the Department of Surgical Oncology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine. This study included patients with GBC without peritoneal dissemination and liver or para-aortic lymph node metastasis. Extended right hemihepatectomy and extrahepatic bile duct resection comprise the treatment of choice for GBC with hilar invasion (hGBC). We aimed to achieve R0 outcomes by aggressive vascular resection and/or concomitant resection of directly invaded organs around the GBC along with extended right hemihepatectomy., Results: We analyzed 27 patients with hGBC (age 58-83 years; median 71 years; male:female 13:14) and 124 with HC (age 45-80 years; median 69 years; male:female 94:30). The 3- and 5-year survival rates of 43 and 24% for hGBC and 58 and 38% for HC, respectively, did not differ significantly (p = 0.14). Preoperative obstructive jaundice was a complication in 22 (81%) and 95 (77%) patients with hGBC and HC, respectively. The 5-year survival rates were 40 and 36%, respectively, which did not differ significantly (p = 0.61). The 5-year survival rates after extended right hemihepatectomy to resect the tumor with curative intent were 34 and 34% for hGBC and HC, which did not differ significantly (p = 0.14)., Conclusions: The prognosis after curative resection of GBC with hilar invasion is similar to that of HC in selected patients. Aggressive surgery for advanced GBC with hilar invasion might increase survival rates.

In several clinical situations, including resection of malignant or benign biliary lesions, reconstruction of the biliary system using the Roux-en-Y jejunum limb has been adopted as the standard procedure. The basic technique and the procedural knowledge essential for most gastroenterological surgeons are described in this article, along with a video supplement. Low complication rates involving anastomotic insufficiency or stricture can be achieved by using proper surgical techniques, even following small bile duct reconstruction. Using the ropeway method to stabilize the bile duct and jejunal limb allows precise mucosa-to-mucosa anastomosis with interrupted sutures of the posterior row of the anastomosis. Placement of a transanastomotic stent tube is the second step. The final step involves suturing the anterior row of the anastomosis. In contrast to the lower extrahepatic bile duct, the wall of the hilar or intrahepatic bile duct can be recognized within the fibrous connective tissue in the Glissonean pedicle. The portal side of the duct should be selected for the posterior wall during anastomosis owing to its thickness. Meticulous inspection to avoid overlooking small bile ducts could decrease the chance of postoperative intractable bile leakage. In reconstruction of small or fragile branches, a transanastomotic stent tube could work as an anchor for the anastomosis.

Background: We have already reported the feasibility, safety, and excellent long-term results of distal pancreatectomy with en-bloc celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) for locally advanced pancreatic body cancer. An international standard for the surgical technique of DP-CAR has yet to be established., Methods: DP-CAR was carefully performed in 42 patients in Hokkaido University Hospital from 1998 to July 2007. Arterial blood flow alteration and collateral flow development toward the liver and stomach was obtained following preoperative routine transcatheter arterial embolization of the common hepatic artery. The right-sided approach to the superior mesenteric artery and celiac artery, and the preservation of the inferior pancreatoduodenal artery during the dissection of the plexus around the pancreatic head, are the key techniques in DP-CAR., Results: The operative morbidity and mortality were 43 and 4.8%, respectively. R0 resection could be done in 39 (93%) patients. Median operation time and intraoperative blood loss were 478 min and 1030 ml, respectively. Ischemic gastropathy was complicated in 5 (12%) patients, but liver abscess was found in only one patient and no liver failure was encountered., Conclusions: We emphasize again the feasibility and safety of DP-CAR; it should be a treatment of choice for locally advanced pancreatic body cancer.

The controversy over whether and how to perform preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCA) remains unsettled. Arguments against PBD before pancreatoduodenectomy have recently been gaining momentum. However, the complication-related mortality rate is as high as 10% for patients with HCA who have undergone major liver resection, and liver failure is a major cause of postoperative death. This suggests the need for PBD to treat jaundice in HCA patients scheduled for major surgical resection of the liver and that major surgery should be performed only after the recovery of hepatic function. No definite criteria or guidelines outlining indications for PBD are currently available. In patients with HCA, PBD may be performed by either percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) or endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD). No consensus, however, has been reached regarding which drainage method is more appropriate. No reported study has compared the effectiveness of PTBD, endoscopic biliary stenting (EBS), and endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) in patients with HCA. This review summarizes the results of our study comparing the three methods and outlines the preoperative endoscopic management of segmental cholangitis (SC) in HCA patients undergoing PBD.

Background: To evaluate the prognostic impact of surgical intervention for initially-unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas with long-term favorable responses to chemotherapy., Method: Twelve patients with initially-unresectable pancreatic ductal carcinomas who underwent radical surgery after a favorable response to chemotherapy for six months or longer in principle were enrolled in this study. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of these 12 patients and performed a survival analysis., Results: Initially, the included patients were unable to undergo resection secondary to locally-advanced disease in eight patients and metastatic disease in four patients. The length of preoperative therapy was five to 44 months (median 12). The operative procedure included resection of the area initially involved by tumor and regional major vessels. The postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 0% for patients with locally-advanced disease and 50% in those with metastatic disease. R0 resection was achieved in nine patients (75%) and pathological CR was seen in one patient. Estimated overall five-year survival from initial therapy was 50.0%. The survival rate (0% at 5 years) of the four patients with metastatic disease as the cause of initial unresectability was significantly worse than that (100% at 5 years) of the eight patients with locally-advanced disease (P = 0.0014)., Conclusion: Surgical intervention should be considered for patients with initially-unresectable pancreatic cancers who demonstrate long-term favorable responses to chemotherapy. R0 resection may significantly contribute to cure, especially in patients with initially locally-advanced disease. Large cohort prospective studies will be necessary to demonstrate the efficacy of this strategy.

Background/purpose: Radical resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze short-term surgical outcomes and to validate our strategies, including preoperative management and selection of operative procedure., Methods: We surgically treated 146 consecutive patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma with a management strategy consisting of preoperative biliary drainage, portal vein embolization, and selection of operative procedure based on tumor extension and hepatic reserve. Major hepatectomy was conducted in 126 patients, and caudate lobectomy or hilar bile duct resection in 20 patients., Results: The overall 5-year survival rate was 35.5%, with overall in-hospital mortality and morbidity rates of 3.4 and 44%, respectively. Hyperbilirubinemia (total bilirubin >5 mg/dL, persisted for >7 postoperative days) and liver abscess were the most frequent complications. Five among 9 patients with liver failure (total bilirubin >10 mg/dL) encountered in-hospital mortality. Four out of 5 mortality patients had suffered circulatory impairment of the remnant liver due to other complications. Multivariate analysis revealed that operative time is a single independent significant predictive factor (odds ratio, 1.005; 95% confidence interval, 1.000-1.010, P = 0.04) for postoperative complications., Conclusions: Aggressive resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma, performed in accordance with strict management strategy, achieved acceptably low mortality. Prolonged operative time was a risk for morbidity following hepatobiliary resection.