title: Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy is effective in a porcine model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery is rapidly evolving due to improving instrumentation and surgical techniques. The challenges confronting laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD), however, are its technical difficulty and its appropriateness for oncologic treatment. This study sought to develop a novel technique for LPD in an acute porcine model and to evaluate the safety and feasibility of LPD before clinical trials are undertaken.
  
  
  METHODS
  The LPD procedure was performed in 10 pigs. Modified Child's reconstruction was performed intracorporeally. After the animals were killed, anastomotic sites were investigated by laparotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the animals underwent LPD. The median operation time was 5 h, with minimal blood loss. One choledochojejunostomy had a small leak.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study proved LPD to be technically safe and feasible in an acute porcine model. Further studies and technical advances are necessary for transition of this clinical application of LPD to humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, N-15, W-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8648, Japan. onsuzuki@med.hokudai.ac.jp
authors.forename: On
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hazama
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shichinohe
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D023421:Models, Animal; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine