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Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a major complication of distal pancreatectomy (DP). Although the visceral fat area (VFA) is a risk factor for POPF in DP, its measurement is complicated. This study aimed to identify a simple marker as a predictive indicator of POPF., Methods: We included 210 patients who underwent resection at our institution between 2020 and 2023. The patients' characteristics, preoperative laboratory data, and radiographic findings (e.g., portal vein distance and VFA) and their association with pancreatic fistula after DP were analyzed. POPF was defined as Grade B or C pancreatic fistula on the basis of the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery 2016 consensus., Results: POPF developed in 82 (39.0%) patients. Univariate analysis showed that female sex, pancreatic thickness of the cutting line, operative time, blood loss, C-reactive protein (CRP) level on postoperative day (POD) 3, drain amylase level on POD 3, VFA, and the peritoneum to portal vein distance (PPD) were associated with POPF. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of PPD showed a higher area under the curve than VFA (cutoff for PPD: 68 mm). Multivariate analysis showed that CRP (odds ratio [OR]: 2.214), drain amylase (OR: 2.875), and PPD (OR: 15.538) were independent risk factors. When we compared the DP fistula risk score and PPD, receiver operating characteristic analysis showed areas under the curve of 0.650 and 0.803, respectively., Conclusions: A PPD of ≥68 mm is a useful risk predictor of POPF. Determining this distance is simple and easily applicable in the clinical setting., (© 2024 International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirurgie (ISS/SIC).)

Background: According to the revised staging of the American Joint Committee on Cancer, 8th edition (AJCC8), the N category in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is classified as N0 (0), N1 (1-3), and N2 (≥ 4) based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs). This study aimed to validate this classification and analyze cutoff values of metastatic LN numbers., Methods: Patients with pancreatic head ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at our institution between 2005 and 2016 without preoperative therapy were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were staged by AJCC8, and prognostic analyses were performed. The best cutoff value for the metastatic LN number was determined by the minimum P value approach., Results: In 228 of 309 patients, LN metastases were found (median number of examined LNs, 41). The median survival time (MST) was 56 months in the N0 group, 34 months in the N1 group, and 20 months in the N2 group (N0 vs N1: P = 0.023; N1 vs N2: P < 0.001). The best cutoff number of metastatic LNs was 4 for patients with LN metastases and 7 for patients with N2 disease. The MST for patients with four to six positive nodes (N2a) was significantly longer than for those with seven or more positive nodes (N2b) (24.0 vs 19.1 months: P = 0.012). For N2b patients, conventional adjuvant chemotherapy did not show survival benefits (P = 0.133), and overall survival did not differ significantly from that for patients with para-aortic LN metastasis (P = 0.562)., Conclusion: The N staging of AJCC8 was valid. Clinicians should regard N2b as similar to distant LN metastasis, and more intensive adjuvant therapy may be indicated for this group.

Background: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy has been shown to be associated with favorable postoperative outcomes using meta-analysis. However, there have been no randomized controlled studies yet. This study aimed to compare laparoscopic and open distal pancreatectomy using propensity score-matching., Methods: We retrospectively collected perioperative data of 2,266 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy in 69 institutes from 2006-2013 in Japan. Among them, 2,010 patients were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy and open distal pancreatectomy. Perioperative outcomes were compared between the groups using unmatched and propensity matched analysis., Results: After propensity score-matching, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy was associated with favorable perioperative outcomes compared with open distal pancreatectomy, including higher rate of preservation of spleen and splenic vessels (P < 0.001); lower rates of intraoperative transfusion (P = 0.020), clinical grade of pancreatic fistula (International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula grade B and C; P < 0.001), and morbidity (P < 0.001); and shorter hospital stay (P = 0.001), but a longer operative time (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy was associated with more favorable perioperative outcomes than open distal pancreatectomy., (© 2015 Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.)

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of hepatic steatosis after pancreatectomy and whether pancrelipase improves steatosis more effectively than other conventional digestive enzymes., Methods: Patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), or total pancreatectomy (TP) from August 2008 to July 2013 were included. Incidence of newly developed hepatic steatosis recognized by computed tomography and outcomes by treatment with pancrealipase or other enzymes were evaluated., Results: A total of 473 patients were evaluated. Among 366 patients who did not take any digestive enzymes until the recognition of steatosis or the last follow-up date, hepatic steatosis was recognized in 3% (4/130), 17% (38/229), and 45% (3/7) of patients after distal pancreatectomy, PD, and TP, respectively, during the median follow-up of 641 days. Seventy patients including 25 patients taking digestive enzymes showed hepatic steatosis and were treated with pancrelipase (20 patients), other enzymes (19 patients), or no enzyme (31 patients). Cumulative improvement rate after 1 year of treatment in the 3 groups was 92%, 51%, and 56%, respectively, and that of the pancrelipase group was significantly better than the other 2 groups., Conclusion: The risk of hepatic steatosis should be a concern after PD and TP. Treatment with pancrelipase was more effective compared to other enzymes.

Background: Surgical resection is advocated for all stages of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs); whether small PNETs can be managed by observation alone is controversial., Methods: The prognoses of patients with non-functional PNET managed by surgical resection or observation alone were retrospectively analyzed. In patients who had undergone resection, correlation of pathologically assessed tumor extension and grade with tumor size were evaluated., Results: Nineteen patients with PNET of median tumor diameters of 12 mm (range 6-38 mm) were followed up by observation for 19-162 months. Increase of tumor size >20 % occurred in three patients, resulting in 5-year progression-free survival of 83 %, but no distant metastases occurred. Surgical resection was performed in 71 patients. Tumor size correlated with the incidence of lymph node or hepatic metastases, portal vein invasion, and Ki-67 index. None of the 18 patients with a tumor size ≤15 mm developed lymph node or distant metastases, and all these patients survived without recurrence for 5-283 months. The smallest tumor size with lymph node metastases was 19 mm. The 5-year recurrence-free survivals of patients with a tumor size ≤15 mm (100 %) was significantly better than patients with tumor sizes 16-20 mm (86 %), 21-30 mm (71 %), 31-50 mm (83 %), and >50 mm (48 %)., Conclusion: Because PNETs ≤15 mm in size have little risk of metastases or recurrence, careful observation with serial image studies is acceptable. Once the tumor size exceeds 15 mm, the risk of metastases and recurrence increases significantly.

Background: Whether the remnant stomach can be safely preserved when performing distal pancreatectomy (DP) in patients with a prior distal gastrectomy (DG) remains unclear because the remnant stomach and pancreatic body/tail share an arterial blood supply via the splenic artery (SPA)., Methods: A total of 18 patients with prior DG who underwent DP were enrolled in this study. Clinicopathologic data were retrospectively analyzed with a focus on management of the remnant stomach and complications related to ischemia of the remnant stomach. Additionally, intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography was performed to visualize the blood flow and circulation in the remnant stomach., Results: Ten patients underwent a standard DP (DP in conjunction with splenectomy and division of the SPA) with preservation of the remnant stomach. The entire stomach was preserved in seven patients, and three underwent concomitant partial resection of the remnant stomach. No patients in whom the entire remnant stomach was preserved developed postoperative complications associated with it, whereas two of the three patients who underwent partial resection of the remnant stomach developed severe ischemic complications. Intraoperative ICG fluorescence angiography revealed a caudally directed circulation of blood from the esophagogastric junction through the intramural capillary network in the remnant stomach., Conclusions: When performing DP in patients with a prior DG, preservation of the entire remnant stomach was a safe procedure because of the presence of an intramural network that supplies blood to the remnant stomach. In contrast, partial resection of the remnant stomach could be dangerous because of the potential for severe ischemic complications.

Background: The pancreatic fistula rate following distal pancreatectomy ranges widely, from 13.3 to 64.0 %. The optimal closure method of the pancreatic remnant remains controversial, especially regarding whether to use a stapler., Methods: All patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy in five Japanese hospitals from January 2001 to June 2009 were included in this study. All relevant, anonymized medical records were entered into an electronic case report form. Complications and pancreatic fistulas were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification and the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery grading system, respectively., Results: Of the 388 patients, stapler closure and nonstapler closure were used after distal pancreatectomy in 224 patients (57.7 %) and 164 patients (42.3 %), respectively. Clinically relevant pancreatic fistulas (grades B and C) occurred in 47 patients (21.0 %) treated by stapler closure, which was a significantly lower rate than that for the 83 patients (50.6 %) treated by nonstapler closure. There were no surgical mortalities or in-hospital deaths. The distribution of postoperative complications was grade 1, 30.7 % (n = 119); grade 2, 40.2 % (n = 156); grade 3a, 0.1 % (n = 5); grade 3b, 0.3 % (n = 1); grade 4a, 0.3 % (n = 1). In the multivariate analysis, diabetes mellitus, previous laparotomy, operating time, and method of stump closure were found to be independently associated with the development of a clinical pancreatic fistula., Conclusions: Stapler closure is a safe, efficient alternative to standard suture closure techniques because the clinical fistula rate is significantly lower.

A pancreatic adenocarcinoma involving both the celiac artery and the gastroduodenal artery is often considered to be unresectable because the simultaneous division of both arteries may result in an acute severe ischemia of the liver and the stomach. We report here a case of total pancreatectomy with en bloc celiac axis resection for a 61-year-old female with a pancreatic adenocarcinoma involving both the celiac artery and the gastroduodenal artery. The patient had a replaced right hepatic artery from the superior mesenteric artery and a replaced left hepatic artery from the left gastric artery, which was directly arising from the aorta. Preserving these collateral arteries, neither hepatic artery reconstruction nor total gastrectomy was needed after resection. The reported incidence of similar arterial anatomy was only 0.2% but the precise evaluation of arterial anatomy is important to offer a chance of curative resection for patients with usually unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Background: The clinical impact of the distal pancreatectomy with en-bloc celiac axis resection for locally advanced pancreatic body cancer remains unclear., Methods: We reviewed the records of 13 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy-celiac axis resection between 1991 and 2009, 58 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic body cancer involving major vessels, the extrapancreatic neural plexus or other organs (T4 according to the Japanese stage classification) between 1991 and 2009, and 24 patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer without distant metastases (unresectable group) between 2001 and 2009. The clinicopathologic factors and overall survival among the 3 groups were compared., Results: The distal pancreatectomy-celiac axis resection group was associated with a significantly higher incidence of morbidity (92% vs 60%, P = .03) and positive surgical margins (69% vs 26%, P = .003) than the distal pancreatectomy group; however, no survival difference was found between the 2 groups. No survivor has lived more than 3 years after operation in the distal pancreatectomy-celiac axis resection group. The distal pancreatectomy-celiac axis resection group had a significantly better prognosis than the unresectable group (median survival time, 20.8 vs 9.8 months; P = .01)., Conclusion: Aggressive resection for T4 pancreatic body cancer by distal pancreatectomy-celiac axis resection can be justified for otherwise unresectable tumors. The surgical indication should be evaluated carefully because of the higher incidence of morbidity and lower incidence of curability compared with distal pancreatectomy, as well as because there have been no long-term survivors so far., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Mosby, Inc.)

Background: Surgical resections for invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas can provide the only chance of cure, although the 5-year survivors are not always equated with cure., Methods: A total of 229 who underwent a macroscopic curative pancreatectomy for invasive ductal adenocarcinoma between 1990 and 2003 and have been observed for more than 5 years from the time of resection were retrospectively analyzed. The data of patients who survived more than 5 years were compared with those died within 5 years. The recurrence pattern and factors that influenced an additional 5-year survival in the 5-year survivors were investigated., Results: Forty patients (17%) survived more than 5 years, and the survival rate for an additional 5 years after surviving 5 years was 72%. A multivariate Cox hazards analysis showed that negative surgical margins status, less frequency of lymphatic invasion, stage

Objective: We aimed to investigate preoperative findings that are useful to distinguish intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) subtypes., Methods: One hundred twenty-three patients who underwent pancreatectomy for IPMN were analyzed clinicopathologically and radiologically. Invasive IPM carcinomas (IPMCs) were subdivided into early-stage nonaggressive (minimally invasive IPMC [MI-IPMC]) and more advanced and aggressive (invasive carcinoma originating in IPMC [IC-IPMC]) subtypes according to our recently proposed pathological criteria., Results: The lesions consisted of 27 IPMNs with low-grade dysplasia, 14 IPMNs with moderate dysplasia, 21 IPMNs with high-grade dysplasia, 30 MI-IPMCs, and 31 IC-IPMCs. Multidetector-row computed tomography detected a component of invasive carcinoma in IC-IPMC with 86% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In patients with IPMNs other than IC-IPMC, multivariate analysis demonstrated 3 significant predictive factors of malignancy: IPMN size (>40 mm), IPMN duct type (main pancreatic duct or mixed type), and the presence of a mural nodule or thick septum. The diagnostic score obtained using these 3 factors showed a strong correlation with the presence of malignancy., Conclusions: For preoperative evaluation of patients with IPMN, it is recommended to rule out IC-IPMC using multidetector-row computed tomography and then to categorize IPMN other than IC-IPMC according to malignant potential based on the diagnostic score.

Background/aim: Medial pancreatectomy has been applied as a safe and effective alternative in benign diseases located in the pancreatic neck or body. However, the role of this procedure remains controversial. We investigate outcomes using this method in 14 patients., Methods: Fourteen consecutive patients underwent medial pancreatectomy. The surgical indications, postoperative outcomes, and pathologic characteristics were retrospectively analyzed., Results: Among 10 patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, 3 patients had minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, and 3 had adenocarcinoma in situ. Four patients required an additional resection of the pancreatic remnant because of a positive surgical margin. A medial pancreatectomy was converted to a distal pancreatectomy in 1 patient with adenocarcinoma in situ. Three patients with islet cell tumor and 1 patient with solid pseudopapillary tumor had no malignant disease. Postoperative complications occurred in 6 patients (43%): 5 had pancreatic fistulas and 1 had a gastric ulcer. All of the patients are doing well without recurrence., Conclusions: A medial pancreatectomy is a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, islet cell tumor, or solid pseudopapillary tumor located in the neck or body of the pancreas. However, a precise preoperative and intraoperative assessment including an examination of frozen sections is mandatory to select the appropriate surgical procedure.

Objectives: Recent advances in diagnostic modalities have made it possible to detect small pancreatic ductal carcinoma and to increase the number of resected cases. However, the postoperative prognosis remains dismal., Methods: Prognostic factors after pancreatectomy were retrospectively examined in 173 patients with small pancreatic ductal carcinomas (

Background: Invasive pancreatic carcinoma originating from the body and tail usually is diagnosed at a late stage, and resection is considered a palliative procedure because of the poor prognosis. Factors predicting survival were not evaluated fully in patients with invasive pancreatic carcinoma of the body and tail who had undergone distal pancreatectomy with extended lymphadenectomy., Methods: Between 1990 and 2004, 88 patients with invasive pancreatic carcinoma of the body and tail underwent distal pancreatectomy with extended lymphadenectomy. Univariate and multivariate models were used to analyze the effects of clinicopathologic factors on long-term survival., Results: No operative deaths occurred. The median survival time was 22 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 76%, 40%, and 19%, respectively. Lymph node involvement status and the degree of histologic vein invasion were independent predictors of long-term survival., Conclusions: Distal pancreatectomy with extended lymphadenectomy for the treatment of invasive pancreatic carcinoma of the body and tail contributed to long-term survival in selected patients without mortality. Effective postoperative treatment should be evaluated in patients with positive lymph nodes and/or the presence of histologic vein invasion even after a curative resection because long-term survival cannot be expected.

The presence of hepatic metastasis in pancreatic cancer has generally been considered to be a contraindication for surgery. However, the present case survived seven years after concomitant resection of pancreatic cancer and hepatic metastasis. This shows that hepatic metastasis may be a strong predictor of poor survival, but not a determinant of noncurability. Surgical resection may be an option for highly selected patients with pancreatic cancer complicated with hepatic metastasis.

Progress of non-surgical treatments in the last decade has improved the prognosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNEN). However, the improvement of surgery for advanced PanNEN remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the chronological changes of the clinical impact of pancreatectomy for PanNEN. Patients undergoing curative-intent pancreatectomy for PanNEN between 1991 and 2010 were categorized into the earlier period group, and those between 2011 and 2021 were into the later period group. Advanced PanNEN was defined as showing resectable synchronous liver metastases or invasion to portal venous systems or adjacent organs. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed among patients with non-advanced and advanced PanNENs. The independent prognostic risk factors were identified using a Cox proportional hazard model. A total of 189 patients (n = 54 in the earlier period and n = 135 in the later period) were included. The proportion of advanced PanNEN increased from 15% to 30% (P = 0.027). The RFS and OS of non-advanced PanNEN were similar between the periods. Whereas, among patients with advanced PanNEN, the later period group showed improved prognosis; The 5-year RFS of the earlier period vs. the later period was 0% vs. 27%, and the 5-year OS was 38% vs. 82% (p = 0.013). A radical surgical treatment for advanced PanNEN has shown prognostic improvement in this decade. However, more careful perioperative examinations and possibly, additional treatments are required for PanNEN with portal vein invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical significance of a positive intraoperative frozen section analysis of the pancreatic margin, especially for adenoma or borderline lesion, is not well understood during operations for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas. Study Design: Data from 130 consecutive patients who underwent intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm resection in a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. Results: In the first intraoperative frozen section analysis, 26 patients were positive for adenoma or borderline lesion, 10 for carcinoma in situ, 2 for cancer cells floating in the duct, and 6 for invasive cancer. Twenty-nine patients underwent additional resection, and 105 patients finally achieved a negative pancreatic margin. Among 18 patients with a positive pancreatic margin for adenoma or borderline lesion, only 1 had a recurrence. All 20 patients who suffered a recurrence harbored invasive intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma in resected specimens. In multivariate analysis, predictive factors of recurrence after intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma resection were the presence of lymph node metastasis, serosal invasion, and a high level of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9. Conclusions: The presence of adenoma or borderline lesion at the pancreatic margin does not always warrant further resection because of the low recurrence rate in the remnant pancreas. Recurrence after intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm resection is influenced primarily by the presence and extent of invasive cancer rather than the status of the pancreatic margin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Surgical resection for pancreatic and hepatic cancer sometimes involves combined resection and reconstruction of the major veins using venous grafts. Autologous venous grafts made from the bilateral gonadal veins (BGVs) have never been utilized or discussed. We reconstructed the portal vein (PV), superior mesenteric vein (SMV), and middle hepatic vein (MHV) using cylindrical or patch grafts customized from the BGVs in two female patients and in one male patient. In order to assess the sexual difference in the availability of the cylindrical graft to replace these major veins, we measured the diameters of the BGVs, PV, SMV, and MHV on computed tomography in 50 male and 50 female patients, and estimated the diameter-ratios (DRs) of the cylindrical graft made from BGVs/PV, SMV, and MHV. We assumed that the cutoff value of the DR would be 0.8, for replacing of major veins using cylindrical grafts. The reconstructed PV, SMV, and MHV presented sufficient patency, and the postoperative courses were uneventful. The DRs of BGVs graft/PV, graft/SMV, and graft/MHV were significantly larger in female patients than those in male patients (0.82 vs. 0.54, p < 0.01, 0.96 vs. 0.61, p < 0.01, 1.39 vs. 0.95; p < 0.01) and were larger than 0.8 in 50%, 70%, and 92% in female patients, respectively, and 0%, 8%, and 68% in male patients, respectively. The present newly customized cylindrical and patch grafts made from the BGVs showed sufficient feasibility. A cylindrical graft made from the BGVs would be better utilized in female patients than in male patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]