title: Portal/Superior Mesenteric Vein Reconstruction during Pancreatic Resection Using a Cryopreserved Arterial Homograft.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Portal-superior mesenteric vein (PV/SMV) resection during pancreatic resection has been widely applied in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a prospective data base of pancreatic resections, patients undergoing PV/SMV resection and reconstruction with a cryopreserved arterial homograft were extracted with the aim of evaluating the safety, feasibility and reproducibility of the procedure. Data regarding patient demographics, preoperative staging, surgery, histopathology and postoperative outcomes were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients were extracted in the last year. Indications for this technique were type IV-V degree of vein involvement and a 3.5 cm median length of vein infiltration. Median operative and clamping times were satisfactory (385 and 27 min, respectively), postoperative outcomes were good and there was no graft infection, thrombosis or stenosis occurred postoperatively and during the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a cryopreserved arterial homograft for PV/SMV reconstruction after pancreatic resection seems to be a feasible, safe and easily reproducible surgical technique in high-volume specialized centers and can be added to the pool of surgical solutions in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mascoli
authors.forename: Marielda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Ambra
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casadei
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taffurelli
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ancetti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minni
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freyrie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064591:Allografts / Q000637:transplantation*; D001158:Arteries / Q000637:transplantation*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000601:surgery; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058017:Vascular Grafting / Q000379:methods*