The Role of Venous and Arterial Resection in Pancreatic Cancer Surgery

Pancreatic cancer continues to carry a dismal prognosis with the majority of patients presenting at advanced stages of disease. Complete surgical resection remains essential for prolonging survival and increasing the possibility of cure. However, few patients will be resectable at diagnosis, with a significant portion presenting with borderline or locally advanced disease. The addition of vascular resection and reconstruction at the time of pancreatectomy enables expansion of the patient population able to undergo resection with curative intent and achieve tumor-free margins. This review provides an overview of the literature regarding the role of venous and arterial resection in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, with a focus on outcomes including survival, morbidity, and mortality.