Arterial resection and reconstruction in pancreatectomy: surgical technique and outcomes

Background The outcomes in patients with pancreatic or ampulla tumors remain unsatisfactory, especially with invasion into the hepatic artery (HA) or the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). In this setting, pancreatectomy combined with arterial resection and reconstruction may offer the possibility of an en-block resection with negative margins and acceptable morbidity and mortality. Methods A six year retrospective review of pancreatectomies performed at our institution, included 21 patients that underwent a pancreatectomy combined with arterial resection and reconstruction. Arterial reconstruction was performed under an operating microscope. The types of arterial reconstruction included direct anastomosis, arterial transposition, and arterial bypass with a vascular graft. Results The surgical procedures consisted of 19 pancreaticoduodenectomies and 2 total pancreatectomies. The tumors were located at the pancreatic head ( n = 10), whole pancreas ( n = 2), distal common bile duct ( n = 5), ampulla ( n = 2) and retroperitoneum with pancreatic head involvement ( n = 2). All operations achieved R0 resection successfully, with no intraoperative complication. Eighteen patients recovered without complications while three patients died from intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to a pancreatic fistula, though notably the bleeding was not at the arterial anastomosis site. All reconstructed arteries showed adequate patency at follow-up. The median postoperative survival was 11.6 months in all the 11 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Conclusion Pancreatectomy combined with arterial resection and reconstruction is a feasible treatment option. The microsurgical technique is critically important to achieving a successful and patent arterial anastomosis.