Laparoscopic palliation of unresectable pancreatic cancers: preliminary results.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility of laparoscopic gastroenteric and cholecystenteric bypass procedures for palliation of inoperable cancer of the pancreas.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Italy.


METHODS
6 patients (4 men and 2 women, range 53-72 years, median 64) who presented between July 1995 and April 1997 with inoperable pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
Laparoscopic gastroenterostomy for duodenal obstruction. Four patients had already had endoscopic biliary decompression. 2 patients also had laparoscopic cholecystojejunostomy for biliary obstruction at the time of the laparoscopic gastroenterostomy.


METHODS
Morbidity and mortality.


RESULTS
The procedure was completed laparoscopically in all patients. There was no perioperative mortality and morbidity was low (1 bleeding from the drain and 1 paralytic ileus). The median postoperative stay was 4.5 days (range 4-6).


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic gastroenterostomy, together with cholecystojejunostomy in selected patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer, offers a less invasive alternative to open surgery with a short hospital stay and rapid return to normal activity.
Casaccia
M
M
Department of Emergency Surgery, University of Genoa, Italy.
Diviacco
P
P
Molinello
P
P
Danovaro
L
L
Casaccia
M
M
D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D004380:Duodenal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005763:Gastroenterostomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*