Totally laparoscopic Roux-en-Y duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy after middle pancreatectomy: a consecutive nine-case series at a single institution.
OBJECTIVE
To present the results of a series of laparoscopic middle pancreatectomies with roux-en-Y duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy.


BACKGROUND
Middle pancreatectomy makes it possible to preserve pancreatic parenchyma in the resection of lesions that traditionally have been treated by distal splenopancreatectomy or cephalic duodenopancreatectomy. The laparoscopic approach could minimize the invasiveness of the procedure and enhance the benefits of middle pancreatectomy.


METHODS
From March 2005 to October 2007, 9 consecutive patients with benign or low malignant potential lesions in the pancreatic neck or body underwent surgery. Laparoscopic middle pancreatectomy with a roux-en-Y duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy was planned on all of them. In the first 2 patients, the pancreas was transected by endostapler; in the last 7, the staple line was reinforced with absorbable polymer membrane.


RESULTS
The intervention was concluded laparoscopically in every case except 1 (laparoscopic-assisted) in which pancreaticojejunostomy was performed by means of minilaparotomy. Mortality was 0% and perioperative morbidity was 33%, (fistula of the cephalic stump in the first 2 patients (22%)). The pancreaticojejunostomy fistula rate was 0%. The median postoperative hospital stay was 5 days (range, 3-41). In the last 7 patients, in which pancreas was transected with staple line reinforcement material there were no stump fistulas; morbidity decreased to 14% and the median hospital stay was 4 days (range, 3-30).


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic middle pancreatectomy is feasible and safe. Duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy can be performed safely using this approach. The method of pancreatic transection seems to be decisive in the incidence of cephalic stump fistulas.
Rotellar
Fernando
F
Departments of General and Abdominal Surgery, University Clinic of Navarre, University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain. frotellar@unav.es
Pardo
Fernando
F
Montiel
Custodia
C
Benito
Alberto
A
Regueira
Fernando M
FM
Poveda
Ignacio
I
Martí-Cruchaga
Pablo
P
Cienfuegos
Javier A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D010193:Pancreaticojejunostomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome