Radical distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac artery, plexus, and ganglions for advanced cancer of the pancreatic body: a preliminary report on perfect pain relief.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to report the effect of radical distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac artery, plexus, and ganglions for locally advanced cancer of the pancreatic body on intractable abdominal and/or back pain and to explore the histopathologic mechanism of this pain.


METHODS
Five patients with pancreatic body cancer involving the celiac and/or common hepatic artery underwent this radical surgery intended to cure the cancer.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed.


METHODS
Surgical magnitude, postoperative pain control, postoperative outcome, and histopathologic findings were studied.


RESULTS
Arterial reconstruction, gastrointestinal reconstruction, and blood transfusions were unnecessary. The organ deficit was limited to the distal pancreas, spleen and left adrenal gland. There was no postoperative mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in four patients, who were successfully managed with medical treatment. This led to prolonged hospital stays. The intractable preoperative abdominal and/or back pain was completely relieved immediately after surgery in all patients. Perfect pain control has been maintained from surgery to the last follow-up. Histopathologic examination of the surgical specimens revealed cancer invasion of the celiac plexus in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This operation offers not only disease radicality but also perfect pain relief. The survival benefit has not yet been fully defined.
Kondo
S
S
Department of Surgery II, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. kondows@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Katoh
H
H
Omi
M
M
Hirano
S
S
Ambo
Y
Y
Tanaka
E
E
Okushiba
S
S
Morikawa
T
T
Kanai
M
M
Yano
T
T
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002447:Celiac Plexus / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000601:surgery*; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome