Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy in Brisbane, Australia: an initial experience

Background: The role of minimally invasive approach for pancreaticoduodenectomy has not yet been well defined in Australia. We present our early experience with laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) from Brisbane, Australia. Methods: Retrospective review in a prospectively collected database of patients undergoing LPD between 2006 and 2016 was performed. Patients who underwent a hybrid LPD (HLPD) mobilization approach and resection followed by open reconstruction and totally LPD (TLPD) approach were included in this study. Operative characteristics, perioperative outcomes, pathological and survival data were collected. Results: Twenty-seven patients underwent LPD including 17 HLPD (63%) and 10 TLPD (37%) patients. HLPD patients were mostly converted to open for planned reconstruction or vascular resection. With increasing experience, more TLPDs were performed, including laparoscopic anastomoses. Median operating time was 462 min (504 min for TLPD). Median length of hospital stay was 10 days. Histology showed 21 invasive malignancies, two neuroendocrine tumours, two intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and two benign lesions. Median nodal harvest was 22. Margin negative resection was achieved in 84% of patients. Twenty-two percent of patients developed a Grade 3/4 complication, including 19% clinically significant pancreatic fistula. There was one perioperative mortality (4%) due to pancreatic fistula, post-operative haemorrhage and sepsis. Conclusions: LPD is a technically challenging operation with a steep learning curve. The early oncological outcomes appear satisfactory. It remains to be determined whether the minimally invasive approach to pancreaticoduodenectomy offers benefits to patients

Early experience with laparoscopic frey procedure for chronic pancreatitis: a case series and review of literature

The Frey procedure has been demonstrated to be an effective surgical technique to treat patients with painful large duct chronic pancreatitis. More commonly reported as an open procedure, we report our experience with a minimally invasive approach to the Frey procedure. Four consecutive patients underwent a laparoscopic Frey procedure at our institution from January 2012 to July 2015. We herein report our technique and describe short- and medium-term outcomes. The median age was 40 years old. The median duration of pancreatic pain prior to surgery was 12 years. Median operative time and intraoperative blood loss was 130 min (100–160 min) and 60 mL (50–100 mL), respectively. The median length of stay was 7 days (3–40 days) and median follow-up was 26 months (12–30 months). There was one major postoperative complication requiring reoperation. Within 6 months, in all four patients, frequency of pain and analgesic requirement reduced significantly. Two patients appeared to have resolution of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. The Frey procedure is possible laparoscopically with acceptable short- and medium-term outcomes in well-selected patients

Impact of pre‐operative positron emission tomography in gallbladder cancer

BackgroundCurrent pre-operative staging methods for gallbladder cancer (GBC) are suboptimal in detecting metastatic disease. Positron emission tomography (PET) may have a role but data are lacking.MethodsPatients with GBC and PET assessed by a hepatobiliary surgeon in clinic between January 2001 and June 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonace imaging (MRI) were correlated with PET scans and analysed for evidence of metastatic or locally unresectable disease. Medical records were reviewed to determine if PET scanning was helpful by preventing non-therapeutic surgery or enabling resection in patients initially deemed unresectable.ResultsThere were 100 patients including 63 incidental GBC. Thirty-eight patients did not proceed to surgery, 35 were resected and 27 patients were explored but had unresectable disease. PET was positive for metastatic disease in 39 patients (sensitivity 56%, specificity 94%). Five patients definitively benefitted from PET: in 3 patients PET found disease not seen on CT, and 2 patients with suspicious CT findings had negative PET and successful resections. In a further 12 patients PET confirmed equivocal CT findings. Three patients had additional invasive procedures performed owing to PET avidity in other sites. Utility of PET was higher in patients with suspicious nodal disease on CT [odds ratio (OR) 7.1 versus no nodal disease, P = 0.0004], and in patients without a prior cholecystectomy (OR 3.1 versus post-cholecystectomy, P = 0.04).ConclusionAddition of PET to conventional cross-sectional imaging has a modest impact on management pre-operatively particularly in patients without a prior cholecystectomy and to confirm suspicious nodal disease on CT

Impact of pre‐operative positron emission tomography in gallbladder cancer

BackgroundCurrent pre-operative staging methods for gallbladder cancer (GBC) are suboptimal in detecting metastatic disease. Positron emission tomography (PET) may have a role but data are lacking.MethodsPatients with GBC and PET assessed by a hepatobiliary surgeon in clinic between January 2001 and June 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonace imaging (MRI) were correlated with PET scans and analysed for evidence of metastatic or locally unresectable disease. Medical records were reviewed to determine if PET scanning was helpful by preventing non-therapeutic surgery or enabling resection in patients initially deemed unresectable.ResultsThere were 100 patients including 63 incidental GBC. Thirty-eight patients did not proceed to surgery, 35 were resected and 27 patients were explored but had unresectable disease. PET was positive for metastatic disease in 39 patients (sensitivity 56%, specificity 94%). Five patients definitively benefitted from PET: in 3 patients PET found disease not seen on CT, and 2 patients with suspicious CT findings had negative PET and successful resections. In a further 12 patients PET confirmed equivocal CT findings. Three patients had additional invasive procedures performed owing to PET avidity in other sites. Utility of PET was higher in patients with suspicious nodal disease on CT [odds ratio (OR) 7.1 versus no nodal disease, P = 0.0004], and in patients without a prior cholecystectomy (OR 3.1 versus post-cholecystectomy, P = 0.04).ConclusionAddition of PET to conventional cross-sectional imaging has a modest impact on management pre-operatively particularly in patients without a prior cholecystectomy and to confirm suspicious nodal disease on CT