title: Vascular reconstruction plays an important role in the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have proved the feasibility of performing a pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple operation) in patients with portal vein-superior mesenteric vein and hepatic artery invasion. We report our institutional experience with the use of a variety of vascular reconstructive methods during pancreatic resections for adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed identifying all patients undergoing a Whipple operation or total pancreatectomy procedure from January 2003 to December 2013. All venous (portal vein-superior mesenteric vein) and arterial (superior mesenteric artery-hepatic artery) reconstructions were extracted and reviewed to determine survival and perioperative complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 10-year study period, 270 Whipple and total pancreatectomy procedures were performed, of which 183 were for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Of the 183 operations, a total of 60 (32.8%) vascular reconstructions were found, 49 venous and 11 arterial. Venous reconstruction included 37 (61.7%) primary repairs, four (6.7%) reconstructions with CryoVein (CryoLife, Inc, Kennesaw, Ga), three (5.0%) repairs with autologous vein patch, three (5.0%) autologous saphenous reconstructions, and two (3.33%) portacaval shunts. In addition, there were 11 (18.3%) arterial reconstructions (seven hepatic artery and four superior mesenteric artery). The 1-year survival for all reconstructions was 71.1%, which is equivalent to T3 lesions that did not receive vascular reconstruction (70.11%), with a median survival time of 575.28 days and 12 patients still alive. Survival time was comparable with each type of venous reconstruction, averaging 528 days (11 of 49 patients still alive). There was a total thrombosis rate of seven of 60 (11.6%), all of which were portal vein thrombosis: three in the primary repair group and four delayed thromboses seen in primary repair, CryoVein repair, and vein patch repair. There was no thrombosis in any patients after arterial reconstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An aggressive approach for stage II pancreatic cancers with venous or arterial invasion can be performed with comparable results when it is executed by an experienced institution with skilled oncologic and vascular surgeons.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Calif.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Sgroi
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Calif.
authors.forename: Raja R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Calif.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Calif.
authors.forename: Aram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demirjian
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Calif.
authors.forename: Nii-Kabu
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kabutey
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Calif.
authors.forename: Roy M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Fujitani
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Calif. Electronic address: dkimagaw@uci.edu.
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Imagawa
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality