Comparison of minimal invasive versus open radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a single center retrospective study

Introduction: Radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) was proposed a decade ago with the aim to achieve higher R0 tangential margin and radical N1 lymph node resection for left-sided pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which has been widely accepted worldwide at present. Laparoscopic RAMPS (Lap-RAMPS) has been attempted for PDAC during last several years, however, no outcomes evaluation by comparison between laparoscopic vs open RAMPS has been reported yet. Materials and methods: From August, 2012 to March, 2018, patients undergoing open or lap-RAMPS for the diagnosis of left-sided PDAC were reviewed from a prospective database. Patients excluded if they were related with combined organs or vessels resection, systematic metastasis as well as conversion from open RAMPS to lap RAMPS. The surgical and oncologic outcomes were compared. Results: A total of 48 PDAC patients were enrolled (25 underwent lap-RAMPS and 23 underwent open-RAMPS). There were no significant differences in demographic or perioperative morbidity. In the lap-RAMPS group, R0 transection margin and retroperitoneal margin were both achieved in 23 of 25 patients (92%). In the open RAMPS group, R0 transection margin was achieved in 21 of 23 patients (91.3%), R0 retroperitoneal margin was 22 of 23 patients (95.65%). There were no differences in pathological examinations. The number of lymph node (LN) retrieved between lap-RAMPS and open- RAMPS group was not significant difference (15.84 vs 18.22; P= 0.268). Median disease-free survival (DFS) was analogous in two groups (18.11 m vs 20.00 m, P= 0.999). Median overall survival (OS) was 24.53 m in lap-RAMPS group and 28.73 m in the open-RAMPS group (P= 0.633). Conclusions: Lap-RAMPS is technically feasible, and has comparable long-term oncological outcome with open-RMAPS.