Colorectal surgery in patients with prior pancreaticoduodenectomy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is difficult to perform, because PD involves dissection and complex reconstruction of the digestive tract. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of CRC surgery in patients with prior PD.

Between January 2008 and March 2018, a total of 1727 patients received CRC surgery at our institution. Of these, 10 had previously undergone PD (PD group). As a control group, 280 patients were collected who had undergone resection without any history of previous abdominal surgery. The PD and control groups were further subdivided into four groups by right or left side. Outcomes of colorectal surgery were investigated in the PD and control groups.

The number of harvested lymph nodes was significantly lower in the PD group. In the right colectomy group, distance from the surgical margin was significantly shorter in the PD group. The rate of postoperative complications was higher in the PD group. Peritoneal dissemination originating from pancreatic cancer was found during CRC surgery for one patient, and one patient developed refractory ascites. Three patients died of pancreatic cancer, rectal cancer, and other disease. Seven patients were alive without recurrence.

CRC surgery for patients with prior PD can involve difficulty in dissecting lymph nodes and higher postoperative morbidity rates but can provide sufficiently curative resection for CRC.