Pancreaticoduodenectomy Group Research Articles

Use of the new ultrasonically curved shear in pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary cancer

To examine whether the use of the new ultrasonically curved shear (UCS) can reduce the number of surgical stitches, extent of blood loss, and operation time in (pylorus-preserving) pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for periampullary cancer. The study population comprised 26 consecutive patients who underwent PD for periampullary cancer. Intraoperative data, including number of stitches used, was prospectively collected. Results from 13 patients who underwent conventional PD (Group A) were compared with those from 13 patients who underwent PD using UCS (Group B). There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two patient groups. The extent of blood loss in Group B was significantly less than in Group A (p<0.0001). Although there was no difference in total operation time, the time spent on hilar lymph node dissection was significantly shorter in Group B patients than in Group A patients (p=0.0189). The number of surgical stitches used was significantly less in Group B patients than in Group A patients (p<0.0001). There were no incidences of post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage. The use of the new UCS was safe and associated with the economical benefit of fewer surgical stitches as well as reduced blood loss.

Side-branch intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreatic head/uncinate: resection or enucleation?

IntroductionSide-branch intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) of the pancreatic head/uncinate are an increasingly common indication for pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). However, enucleation (EN) may be an alternative to PD in selected patients to improve outcomes and preserve pancreatic parenchyma. AimTo determine peri-operative outcomes in patients with side-branch IPMN of the pancreatic head/uncinate undergoing EN or PD compared with a cohort of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) undergoing PD. MethodsRetrospective review of a prospectively collected, combined, academic institutional series from 2005 to 2008. Of 107 pancreatic head/uncinate IPMN, enucleation was performed in 7 (IPMN EN) and PD was performed in 100 (IPMN PD) with 17 of these radiographically amenable to EN (IPMN PDen). During the same time period, 281 patients underwent PD for PA (Control PD). ResultsOperative time was shorter (p<0.05) and blood loss (p<0.05) was less in the IPMN EN group compared with all other groups. Peri-operative mortality and morbidity of all IPMN groups (IPMN EN, IPMN PDen) were similar to the Control PD group. Overall pancreatic fistulae rate in the IPMN EN group was higher than in the IPMN PDen and Control PD groups; however, the rate of grade C pancreatic fistulae was the same in all groups. ConclusionsPancreaticoduodenectomy for side-branch IPMNs can be performed safely. Compared with PD, enucleation for IPMN has less blood loss, shorter operative time and similar morbidity, mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS) and readmission rate. Enucleation should be considered more frequently as an option for patients with unifocal side-branch IPMN.

Postoperative sublingual microcirculatory derangement following esophagectomy is prevented with dobutamine

Esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction is characterized by high postoperative morbidity rates. Recently it was shown that decreased sublingual microvascular blood flow (MBF) preoperatively was associated with increased rate of complications after abdominal surgery. Similar observations in severely septic patients could be treated with dobutamine, independent of cardiac output. Based on these considerations we hypothesized that sublingual MBF derangements are more likely to be found in patients undergoing high risk surgery such as esophagectomy, and if present, might be prevented with administration of low dose dobutamine. In this single-centre, prospective, double-blinded study, we randomized 20 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit following esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction into two groups. The intervention group (D) received a small dose of dobutamine (2.5 μg/kg/min) directly postoperative until two days postoperatively, whereas the placebo group (P) received a similar volume of saline. A subset of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy surgery was included as control group (C) for comparison with the study group. Sublingual MBF was determined one day prior to surgery until two days postoperatively. At the first postoperative day, patients in the esophagectomy/placebo group (P), showed a significant lower microvascular flow index, perfused vessel density and proportion of perfused vessels compared to baseline (p < 0.001) and the pancreaticoduodenectomy group (C) (p < 0.001). Administration of dobutamine significantly prevented the overall decrease in microvascular blood flow the first postoperative day. Postoperative sublingual MBF is markedly impaired in esophagectomy patients compared to patients who underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy and could be prevented by early administration of a small dose dobutamine.

Classification and surgical management of pancreatic duct stones

Objective To explore the classification and surgical management of pancreatic duct stones.Methods The clinical data of 54 patients with pancreatic duct stones who were admitted to the People's Hospital of Hunan Province from June 1994 to November 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Stones were found in the head of the pancreas (type Ⅰ ) in 31 patients, in the body and tail of the pancreas (type Ⅱ ) in 7 patients, and in all the pancreas (type Ⅲ ) in 16 patients. According to the types of the pancreatic duct stones, ten patients (6 with type Ⅰ , two with type Ⅱ and two with type Ⅲ pancreatic duct stones) received opening of the main pancreatic duct + pancreaticojejunostomy or pancreaticogastrostomy ( group A). Twenty-four patients ( 16 with type Ⅰ and eight with type Ⅲ pancreatic duct stones) received pancreaticoduodenectomy (group B). Fifteen patients (nine with type Ⅰ and six with type Ⅱ pancreatic duct stones) received subtotal resection of pancreatic head preserving duodenum (group C). Five patients with type Ⅱ pancreatic duct stones received resection of the body and tail of the pancreas and the spleen (group D). All data were analyzed using the t test. Results The mean operation time, blood loss, length of postoperative stay and hospital charges of group A were (2.2 ± 1.2)hours,( 127 ±24)ml,( 11.4 ±4.3) days and (3.24 ± 1.15 ) × 104 yuan, respectively. Five out of nine patients who were followed up had stone recurrence. The mean operation time, blood loss, length of postoperative stay and hospital charges of group B were (7.6 ± 1.1 ) hours, (409 ± 37 ) ml, ( 18.9 ± 2.5 ) days and (7.93 ± 1.35 ) × 104 yuan, respectively.No stone recurrence was detected in the 21 patients who were followed up. The mean operation time, blood loss,length of postoperative stay and hospital charges of group C were (4. 1 ± 0.7 ) hours, ( 156 ± 63 ) ml, ( 10.3 ±2.1 )days and (4. 12 ± 1.22) × 104 yuan, respectively. No stone recurrence was detected in the 15 patients who were followed up. The mean operation time, blood loss, length of postoperative stay and hospital charges of group D were (3.3 ± 1.4) hours, ( 185 ± 36 ) ml, ( 9.3 ± 2.0) days and ( 3.22 ± 1.05 ) × 104 yuan, respectively. No complication was detected after the operation, and no stone recurrence was detected in the three patients who were followed up. There were significant differences in the mean operation time, blood loss, length of postoperative stay and hospital charges between patients with type Ⅰ and Ⅲ pancreatic duct stones who received pancreaticoduodenectomy and subtotal resection of pancreatic head preserving duodenum (t = 12. 143, 14. 099, 11. 550, 9. 103,P < 0.05 ). Conclusions Classification of the pancreatic duct stones is important for choosing the proper surgical procedure. Subtotal resection of pancreatic head preserving duodenum is ideal for the treatment of patients with type Ⅰ or Ⅱ pancreatic duct stones. Key words: Pancreatic duct stones; Classification; Subtotal resection of pancreatic head preserving duodenum; Pancreaticogastrostomy; Pancreaticojejunostomy; pancreaticoduodenectomy

Effect of Pancreaticoduodenectomy on the Course of Hepatic Steatosis

The progression of hepatic steatosis after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is controversial. This study was designed to determine whether PD would influence the course of hepatic steatosis. Patients admitted for PD and distal pancreatectomy (DP) from January 2004 to January 2008 were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included liver metastasis, severe obesity (body mass index >30), diabetic mellitus, excessive alcohol consumption, and unavailable preoperative and 6-month postoperative unenhanced CT images. The pre-PD and post-PD liver attenuation, ratio, and difference of liver-to-spleen attenuation between liver and spleen attenuation were compared. Fifty patients who underwent PD and 20 patients who underwent DP were eligible. The mean follow-up period was 18.2 +/- 1.6 months for the PD group and 19.7 +/- 1.7 months for the DP group. Liver attenuation after PD was significantly decreased from 52.3 +/- 1.1 H. to 47.6 +/- 2 H. (p = 0.044), but no difference was observed in spleen attenuation. The liver-to-spleen attenuation ratio after PD also was significantly decreased: 1.12 +/- 0.02 versus 1.01 +/- 0.04 (p = 0.033). No difference in liver attenuation was found in the DP group. The female gender was a significant risk factor. The liver attenuation of CT images decreases in patients who receive PD, which implicates that hepatic steatosis can develop after PD; however, the mechanism needs to be elucidated.

Segmental duodenectomy for gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the duodenum

To evaluate the results of segmental duodenectomy (SD) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and help clinicians with surgical management. All patients who underwent surgery for non-metastatic GIST of the duodenum in a single institution since 2000 were prospectively followed up. Seven patients (median age 51 years, range: 41-73 years) were enrolled: five underwent SD and two underwent PD. All the patients had a complete resection (R0), with no postoperative morbidity and mortality. Among the SD group, GIST was classified as low risk in two patients, intermediate risk in two, and high risk in one, according to the Fletcher scale, (vs two high risk patients in the PD group). With a median follow-up of 41 (18-85) mo, disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 100% after SD and 0% after PD (P < 0.05). The median DFS was 13 mo in the PD group. Whenever associated with clear surgical margins, SD is a reliable and curative option for most duodenal GISTs, and is compatible with long-term DFS.

Margin Positive Pancreaticoduodenectomy Is Superior to Palliative Bypass in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

BackgroundPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease. Surgical resection with negative margins (R0) offers the only opportunity for cure. Patients who have advanced disease that limits the chance for R0 surgical resection may undergo margin positive (MP) pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), palliative surgical bypass (PB), celiac plexus neurolysis alone (PX), or neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in anticipation of future resection. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine if there is a difference in the perioperative outcomes and survival patterns between patients who undergo MP PD and those who undergo PB for locally advanced disease in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. MethodsWe reviewed our pancreatic surgery database (January 2005–December 2007) to identify all patients who underwent exploration with curative intent of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma of the head/neck/uncinate process of the pancreas. Four groups of patients were identified, R0 PD, MP PD, PB, and PX. ResultsWe identified 126 patients who underwent PD, PB, or PX. Fifty-six patients underwent R0 PD, 37 patients underwent MP PD, 24 patients underwent a PB procedure, and nine patients underwent PX. In the PB group, 58% underwent gastrojejunostomy (GJ) plus hepaticojejunostomy (HJ), 38% underwent GJ alone, and 4% underwent HJ alone. Of these PB patients, 25% had locally advanced disease and 75% had metastatic disease. All nine patients in the PX group had metastatic disease. The mean age, gender distribution, and preoperative comorbidities were similar between the groups. For the MP PD group, the distribution of positive margins on permanent section was 57% retroperitoneal soft tissue, 19% with more than one positive margin, 11% pancreatic neck, and 8% bile duct. The perioperative complication rates for the respective groups were R0 36%, MP 49%, PB 33%, and PX 22%. The 30-day perioperative mortality rate for the entire cohort was 2%, with all three of these deaths being in the R0 group. The median follow-up for the entire cohort was 14.4 months. Median survival for the respective groups was R0 27.2 months, MP 15.6 months, PB 6.5 months, and PX 5.4 months. ConclusionsMargin positive pancreaticoduodenectomy in highly selected patients can be performed safely, with low perioperative morbidity and mortality. Further investigation to determine the role of adjuvant treatment and longer-term follow-up are required to assess the durability of survival outcomes for patients undergoing MP PD resection.

Carcinoma of the middle bile duct: Is bile duct segmentalresection appropriate?

To compare survival between bile duct segmental resection (BDSR) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for treating distal bile duct cancers. Retrospective analysis was conducted for 45 patients in a BDSR group and for 149 patients in a PD group. The T-stage (P < 0.001), lymph node invasion (P = 0.010) and tumor differentiation (P = 0.005) were significant prognostic factors in the BDSR group. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates for the BDSR group and PD group were 51.7% and 36.6%, respectively and 46.0% and 38.1%, respectively (P = 0.099). The BDSR group and PD group did not show any significant difference in survival when this was adjusted for the TNM stage. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were: stage Ia [BDSR (100.0% and 100.0%) vs PD (76.9% and 68.4%) (P = 0.226)]; stage Ib [BDSR (55.8% and 32.6%) vs PD (59.3% and 59.3%) (P = 0.942)]; stage IIb [BDSR (19.2% and 19.2%) vs PD (31.9% and 14.2%) (P = 0.669)]. BDSR can be justified as an alternative radical operation for patients with middle bile duct in selected patients with no adjacent organ invasion and resection margin is negative.

A comparison of pancreaticoduodenectomy with extended pancreaticoduodenectomy: A meta-analysis of 1909 patients

Aim To compare outcomes between pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and extended pancreaticoduodenectomy (EPD) from all published comparative studies in the literature. Methods Using meta-analytical techniques the present study compared operative details, post-operative adverse events and survival following PD and EPD. Comparative studies published between 1988 and 2005 of PD versus EPD were included. End points were classified into peri-operative details, post-operative complications including 30 day mortality, and survival as measured during follow up. A random effect model was employed. Results Sixteen comparative studies comprising 1909 patients (865 PD and 1044 EPD), including 3 randomized controlled trials with 454 patients (226 PD and 228 EPD) were identified. Tumour size was comparable between the groups (weighted mean difference (WMD) −0.16 cm, p = 0.76). Significantly more lymph nodes were harvested from those patients undergoing EPD (WMD p = 14 nodes, p ≤ 0.001). Operative time was longer in EPD (WMD −48.9 min, p < 0.001) and there was a trend towards fewer positive resection margins (odds ratio (OR) 1.78, p = 0.080). Peri-operative adverse events were similar between the groups with only delayed gastric emptying (OR 0.59, p = 0.030) occurring less frequently in the PD group. Peri-operative mortality (OR 1.48, p = 0.180) and long-term survival (hazard ratio 0.77, p = 0.100) showed a non-significant trend favouring EPD. Conclusions EPD is associated with a greater nodal harvest and fewer positive resection margins than PD. However, the risk of delayed gastric emptying is increased and no significant survival benefit has been shown. Better designed, adequately powered studies are required to settle this question.

Outcome of R1 resection in patients undergoing pancreatico-duodenectomy for pancreatic cancer

Background Pancreatico-duodenectomy (PD) is the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic cancer, but most surgeons are reluctant to perform a palliative resection. The aim was to define the outcome for microscopically incomplete PD (R1). Methods Ninety-nine consecutive patients underwent laparotomy to perform PD. Sixty-seven patients were resected and 32 underwent palliative bypass (PSB) because of locally advanced disease. Results Of the 67 PD, 27 were classified as R0 and 40 as R1. Median survival for R0, R1 and PSB were 24, 18 and 9 months, respectively. Survival in the PSB group was 34% at 1 year and 0% at 2 years. 1-, 2- and 5-year survival in the R0 and R1 groups was 79% and 70%, 48.3% and 39.1%, 21.5% and 9.9%, respectively. Compared to PSB, both other groups were less likely to die over follow-up ( p = 0.002). Survival was not significantly different between the R0 and R1 groups ( p = 0.21). Perioperative morbidity and mortality were similar in the PD and PSB groups (29.9% and 3.0% vs 31.3 and 3.1%, respectively, p = 1.00). Conclusions Better survival in the resection group and similar perioperative risk would support the decision to perform PD even when there is the possibility of incomplete microscopic clearance.

Transduodenal Local Resection for Low-Risk Group Ampulla of Vater Carcinoma

Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater has a more favorable prognosis, compared to other malignant tumors of the periampullary region, because it usually presents with symptoms in the early stage. However, treatment by local resection only of the ampullary carcinoma remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment results of the ampulla of Vater carcinoma according to different types of operation in low-risk-group patients. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 17 low-risk-group patients among a total of 102 patients with ampulla of Vater carcinoma who had underwent curative surgery from 1992 to 2002. All specimens were critically reviewed by a single expert pathologist, and the relationship between surgical outcomes and operation type was assessed. The low-risk group was comprised of 10 men and 7 women with a median age of 57.8 years. Thirteen of 17 patients underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or a pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD), while 4 patients underwent a transduodenal local resection (TDLR). The operation time was significantly shorter in the TDLR group, compared to the PD or PPPD groups. Among the 17 patients, there was only 1 case of recurrence in the inguinal area 33 months after the pancreaticoduodenectomy. Transduodenal local resection is a comparable mode of operation for low-risk-group patients with Ampulla of Vater carcinoma. In particular, it is essential to evaluate the invasion depth in preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography, cell differentiation in preoperative biopsy, and positivity of resection margin accurately by using frozen section during the operation.

RETRACTED: The Role of Pancreatic Leakage on Rising of Postoperative Complications Following Pancreatic Surgery

The variations in methods of pancreatic stump management and the volume of literature available on both main pancreatic duct and pancreaticoenetric anastomosis leak indicates the concern associated with the leak and the continuing efforts to prevent it. Herein we analyzed the role of pancreatic leakage followed by pancreatic surgery on the incidence of postoperative morbidity. From 1989 to 2005, we performed 76 pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and 26 distal pancreatectomy (DP), assumed as control case). During DP the parenchymal transection was performed with a linear stapler. The surgical reconstruction after PD was as follows: 11 manual nonabsorbable stitch closure of the main duct, 24 closure of the main duct with linear stapler, 17 temporary occlusion of the main duct with neoprene glue, and 24 duct-to-mucosa anastomosis. In the PD group, morbidity rate was 60%, caused by pancreatic leakage, with an incidence of 48%, hemorrhagic complication, occurred in 10% of patients following surgical procedure and infectious complication, with an incidence of 15%. After distal pancreatectomy we recorded 80, 7% no complications, 3, 9% leakage, 15, 4% hemoperitoneum. By multivariate analysis bleeding complications, biliary anastomosis leakage, and infectious complications were consequences of pancreatic leakage (P = 0.025, P = 0.025, and P = 0.025, respectively). A significant statistical difference was recorded analyzing re-operation rates between closure of the main duct with linear stapler versus temporary occlusion of the main duct with neoprene glue (t = 0.049) and closure of the main duct with linear stapler versus duct-to-mucosa anastomosis (t = 0.003). On the ground of our results of bleeding complication, biliary anastomosis leakage and infectious complication were consequences of pancreatic leakage: failure of a surgical anastomosis has serious consequences, particularly in case of anastomosis of the pancreas to the small bowel, because of the digestive capacities of activated pancreatic secretions.

Delayed Recovery after Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Major Factor Impairing the Delivery of Adjuvant Therapy?

Delayed recovery after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is believed to preclude adjuvant therapy for approximately 30% of patients who undergo elective PD as initial treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This study reexamined the frequency of delayed recovery and assessed other factors associated with adjuvant therapy administration after PD at a high-volume center. Preoperative and perioperative variables were reviewed in a consecutive series of 85 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma undergoing PD without preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy from 1990 to 2004. Study groups included patients undergoing emergency PD (group 1, n=13); elective PD with good preoperative Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) (group 2, ECOG PS: 0 to 1, n=63); and elective PD with marginal preoperative PS (group 3, ECOG PS: 2 to 3, n=9). Delayed recovery of PS precluded adjuvant therapy in 23% of patients in group 1, 6% of patients in group 2, and 44% of patients in group 3 (p=0.0001). The impact of delayed recovery after PD on the delivery of adjuvant therapy depends on the urgency of surgery and the preoperative PS. For patients with good preoperative PS who undergo elective PD at a high-volume center, it is uncommon for delayed recovery to preclude delivery of adjuvant therapy.

Is Radical Surgery Necessary for Early-Stage Ampullary Tumors?

periampullary lesions. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was associated with a statistically significant increase in perioperative morbidity and mortality compared with ampullectomy. Preoperative biopsies identified only 76% of all patients with malignant lesions, and intraoperative frozen-section analysis had a sensitivity rate of 75%. The authors also analyzed recurrence and survival curves in patients with invasive periampullary cancers (n = 99). Two-year estimates of recurrence-free survival were 0% for the ampullectomy group (n = 8) and 48% for the pancreaticoduodenectomy group (n = 91). The 2-year diseasespecific survival was 58% in the ampullectomy group and 78% in the pancreaticoduodenectomy group. Most recurrences in the ampullectomy group were locoregional. Multivariate analysis of the pancreaticoduodenectomy group demonstrated vascular invasion and T stage to be associated with lymph node involvement. Patients with lymph node involvement had decreased recurrence-free and disease-specific survival. The obvious weakness of this study is the limited number of patients (n = 8) with cancer who underwent an ampullectomy as definitive treatment. In addition, the authors do not comment on the pathologic T staging of these patients; thus, drawing conclusions regarding the adequacy of ampullectomy for early-stage lesions is not possible. Despite this, the take-home messages are quite important: (1) preoperative and intraoperative biopsies can miss a significant number of patients with cancer, (2) locoregional failure is high in patients undergoing ampullectomy for cancer, (3) clinicopathologic variables are not accurate enough to predict the presence of nodal metastases, and (4) on the basis of the limited number of patients in this study, recurrence-free survival and

Pancreatic cancer: management and survival

To review the management and survival from all pancreatic cancer over a 5-year period at a tertiary referral hospital in New Zealand and to examine similar outcome data from the national cancer registry. A retrospective audit was conducted for the 5-year period 1994-99 of patients discharged from Christchurch Hospital (Christchurch, New Zealand) and all patients in the New Zealand Cancer Registry with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Kaplan- Meier survival curves were used for analysis. From Christchurch Hospital a total of 230 patients were identified with a discharge diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Medium survival for all groups was 3.9 months. There was a median survival of 1.6 months for the non-interventional group, 3.1 months for the stent group, 6.2 months for the bypass group and 12.6 months for the pancreatico-duodenectomy group. These data are very similar to the New Zealand National Cancer Registry data, where the overall median survival was 3.1 months and median survival for a pancreatico-duodenectomy was 13.9 months. A pancreatico-duodenectomy is usually a palliative surgical technique and not a curative procedure. Those selected for resection have been shown to have an advantage over operative bypass in terms of length of survival, however, this most likely reflects selection bias.

Treatment of 54 cases of primary malignant duodenal tumor

To study the treatment of primary malignant duodenal tumor. The data of 54 cases of primary malignant duodenal tumor during 1993 approximately 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical manifestations were jaundice, abdominalgia, obstruction of digest tract and bleeding. Correct diagnosis rates of image examination were endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography 92.8%, air barium double radiography 70.8%, gastroscopy 50.0%, CT 21.9%, MRI 21.4%. Tumor location was 1 in duodenal bulb, 45 in descending portion, 3 in horizontal part and none in ascending portion. 48 malignant tumors were operated, 31 pancreaticoduodenectomy, 1 pancreaticoduodenectomy and partial resection of superior mesenteric vein, 6 radical segmental duodenal resection, 1 palliative segmental duodenal resection, 3 duodenal wedge resection, 5 bypass operation (gastrojejunostomy and/or cholangiojejunostomy), 1 jejunostomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy was given in 13 cases. The survival rates were 5-year 45.4%, 3-year 45.4%, 1-year 63.2%. Median survival months were 24, 10, 38 and 16 respectively for radical operation group, palliative operation group, with postoperative adjuvant therapy group and without postoperative adjuvant therapy group. No significant survival time was found between radical operation group and palliative operation group, adjuvant therapy group and without postoperative adjuvant therapy group, pancreaticoduodenectomy group and radical segmental duodenal resection group in statistics. Among lymphyaden metastasis, tumor size, tumor depth, tumor thrombi, pathologic type and operative methods, only tumor thrombi had prognostic significance in multivariate analysis. Pancreaticoduodenectomy and radical segmental duodenal resection should be selected for primary malignant duodenal tumor. Bypass operation can prolong survival and improve life-quality. Postoperative adjuvant treatment is advocated.

Standard vs. Radical Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Periampullary Adenocarcinoma: A Prospective, Randomized Trial Evaluating Quality of Life in Pancreaticoduodenectomy Survivors

This study was designed to assess the health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients who had been randomly assigned to either standard or radical pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary adenocarcinoma. Pancreaticoduodenectomy has been performed in increasing numbers for periampullary adenocarcinoma. The appropriate extent of resection (standard vs. radical [extended]) remains controversial, particularly as concerns survival benefit. Past reports comparing standard vs. radical resection have suggested that the more extensive resection is attended by negative functional outcomes (diarrhea and weight loss) and poorer QOL, diminishing the impact of any possible survival advantage of the radical resection. A prospective, randomized single-institution trial comparing standard pancreaticoduodenectomy (pylorus preservation preferred) to radical pancreaticoduodenectomy (including distal gastrectomy and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy) evaluated 299 patients with periampullary adenocarcinoma between April 1996 and June 2001. A standard Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) QOL survey designed for hepatobiliary cancer was sent to 150 of these patients surviving pancreaticoduodenectomy. QOL and functional status were assessed via a series of subscale scores for physical, social, emotional, and functional well-being. A total of 105 QOL surveys (70%) were returned and analyzed, with 55 of the patients having been randomized to the standard group and 50 to the radical group. The patients were evaluated at a mean of 2.2 years after pancreaticoduodenectomy. The two groups were statistically similar with regard to multiple parameters including age at operation (64.6 years), race, intraoperative blood transfusions, pathologic diagnosis and staging, and perioperative complications. The radical group had a significantly higher percentage of men (66% vs. 44%; P = 0.02), a longer operative time (369 minutes vs. 327 minutes; P < 0.001), and a longer postoperative length of hospital stay (13.6 days vs. 10.1 days; P < 0.01). The FACT-Hep total QOL scores were similar between the standard and radical groups: 143.5 vs. 147.3, respectively. Additionally, the individual FACT-G subscale scores evaluating physical (22.1 vs. 23.3), social (24.5 vs. 24.4), emotional (19.2 vs. 19.6), and functional well-being (20.6 vs. 22.4) were comparable between the standard and radical groups. Subgroup analyses based on pathologic diagnosis (pancreatic, ampullary, distal bile duct, etc.) failed to reveal any differences in QOL assessment between the standard and radical pancreaticoduodenectomy groups. Finally, QOL measures were similar when comparing time since operation (<2 years' follow-up vs. >2 years' follow-up) and age (≤65 years vs. >65 years). This is the largest report comparing QOL assessment in survivors of pancreaticoduodenectomy randomized between standard and radical resection. These data demonstrate no differences in long-term QOL between standard and radical resection. These results imply that no negative long-term QOL measures are associated with radical pancreaticoduodenectomy (as performed in this study) for periampullary adenocarcinoma. ( J Gastrointest Surg 2003;7:1–11.)