Laparoscopic assisted duodenopancreatectomy.
BACKGROUND
In the past few years, minimally invasive therapy for pancreatic diseases has made significant strides but the role of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy is still controversial.


METHODS
Four patients with a mean age of 44 +/- 11 years were chosen for a laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy. Pathological diagnoses were ductal adenocarcinoma in one, neuroendocrine tumor in two, and metastatic malignant melanoma in one.


RESULTS
The procedure was laparoscopically completed in all with a mean operating time, blood loss, and hospital stay of 416 +/- 77 min, 325 +/- 50 ml, and 12 +/- 2 days, respectively. There were no complications attributable to this surgery and there were no deaths. The average number of dissected lymph nodes was 26 +/- 17 (range 16-47). All the patients remained well at a median follow-up of 4.5 months (range 1-10).


CONCLUSIONS
It can be inferred from this small but successful experience that laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy can be considered for the treatment of tumors of the pancreas or periampullary region.
Staudacher
C
C
Department of Surgery, Vita e Salute University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milan, Italy. staudacher.carlo@hsr.it
Orsenigo
E
E
Baccari
P
P
Di Palo
S
S
Crippa
S
S
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000379:methods*