Endovascular Stenting for Non-Traumatic Celiac Artery Stenosis Following Pancreatoduodenectomy

Celiac artery stenosis and its impact on postoperative outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy: An institutional analysis

BACKGROUND

The detection of a stenotic celiac artery (CA) typically mandates intraoperative revascularization during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) to preserve liver perfusion. The impact of CA stenosis on postoperative outcomes is unclear. This study evaluates whether CA stenosis (CAS) is associated with increased postoperative complications.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of PD patients from February 2014 to February 2022. Preoperative imaging assessed the CA lumen, categorizing it as patent, <50%, or ≥50% stenosis. Patients with narrowed SMA were excluded. Complications were categorized using the Clavien-Dindo system, and statistical analyses identified outcome differences.

RESULTS

We included 427 patients in the study. Of these, 52 had CAS, and 311 had no-vessel stenosis (NVS). The median age of the CAS and NVS groups was 68 and 65 years, respectively. Postoperatively, 17.6% of patients with CAS exhibited delayed gastric emptying (DGE) versus 25.3% in the NVS group. Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) was found in 13.5% of patients with CAS, compared with 23.7% without stenosis. The median length of hospital stay was shorter for patients with CAS (9 days) than for those with CAS (12 days). Severity-based classifications indicated higher complications in the no stenosis group and a 33.0% readmission rate within 30 days compared with 21.2% in CAS patients. However, none of these differences were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Critical stenosis of the CA does not significantly affect postoperative outcomes following PD, suggesting preoperative correction of the narrowed CA may not be necessary. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy combined gastroduodenal collateral reconstruction and preservation due to median arcuate ligament syndrome: technical notes with two surgical cases report (with video)

INTRODUCTION

Pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with CA stenosis due to median arcuate ligament often required carefully collateral pathways management to avoid hepatic ischemic complications.

CASES PRESENTATION

Case 1: A 63-year-old man was referred to our department because of jaundice with distal common bile duct tumor. Pancreaticoduodenectomy with left posterior SMA first approach and circumferential lymphadenectomy was performed. Case 2: A 48-year-old man was referred to our department because of right-upper-quadrant abdominal pain with Vater tumor. Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy with left posterior SMA first approach and circumferential lymphadenectomy was performed. Postoperatively, in all two cases, three-dimensional reconstruction images showed developed collateral pathways around the pancreatic head, and the CA was stenosis in 75% and 70% due to MAL, respectively. Intraoperatively, in all two cases, we confirmed poor blood flow in the common hepatic artery (CHA) by palpation and observation. So that in the first case, we have decided to proceed a no-touch technique of GDA segmental resection en bloc with the tumor and reconstructed with an end-to-end GDA anastomosis; in the second cases, we have decided to proceed gastroduodenal collateral preservation. When preserving these collateral pathways, we confirmed that the PHA flow remained pulsatile as an indicator that the blood flow was adequate.

CONCLUSION

Celiac axis stenosis was a rare but difficult-to-managed condition associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy. Collateral pathways management depends on variety of collateral pathways.

Impact of pancreaticoduodenal arcade dilation on postoperative outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of pancreaticoduodenal arcade (PDA) dilation on postoperative outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODS

Consecutive patients submitted to pancreaticoduodenectomy between 2008 and 2016 underwent preoperative multi-detector computed tomography, the images of which were re-reviewed. The patients were categorized according to the grade of PDA dilation into 3 groups (remarkably-dilated, slightly-dilated, and non-dilated).

RESULTS

Among the 443 patients, 25 patients (5.6%) were categorized as remarkably-dilated PDA and 24 patients (5.4%) as having slightly-dilated PDA. The patients with remarkably-dilated PDA had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy with additional surgical maneuvers to restore celiac arterial flow as needed, and had an uneventful postoperative recovery relative to those with non-dilated PDA. In contrast, patients with slightly-dilated PDA underwent only pancreaticoduodenectomy without additional surgical maneuvers, and developed clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) more frequently than those with non-dilated PDA (42% vs. 21%, P = 0.021). Moreover, slightly-dilated PDA was shown to be an independent risk factor for clinically relevant POPF (odds ratio = 2.719, P = 0.042).

DISCUSSION

For patients with PDA dilation requiring pancreaticoduodenectomy, a preoperative evaluation of the vascular anatomy, intraoperative assessment of the celiac arterial flow, and additional surgical maneuvers might be necessary to reduce the risk of postoperative complications.