Minimally Invasive Pancreaticoduodenectomy in Elderly Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Jisheng Zhu1, Guiyan Wang2, Peng Du1

  • 1Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China.

World Journal of Surgery
|January 18, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) is safe for elderly patients, showing reduced 90-day mortality and delayed gastric emptying compared to open surgery. Elderly patients undergoing MIPD have similar outcomes to younger patients.

Area of Science:

  • Surgical Oncology
  • Geriatric Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

  • Minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) is increasingly used for pancreatic head/periampullary lesions.
  • Limited data exist on MIPD safety and feasibility in the elderly population.
  • This study compares MIPD and open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) in elderly patients and compares elderly vs. non-elderly MIPD outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the safety and feasibility of MIPD in elderly patients.
  • To compare MIPD outcomes in elderly patients versus OPD.
  • To compare MIPD outcomes in elderly versus non-elderly patients.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search of Cochrane Library, Ovid, and PubMed up to April 2020.
  • Included seven retrospective studies with 2727 patients.
  • Analyzed outcomes including mortality, morbidity, delayed gastric emptying, and operative time.

Main Results:

  • Elderly patients undergoing MIPD had significantly less 90-day mortality (OR 0.56) and delayed gastric emptying (OR 0.54) compared to OPD.
  • No significant differences were found in 30-day mortality, major morbidity, pancreatic fistula, hemorrhage, reoperation, readmission, or operative time between MIPD and OPD in the elderly.
  • Elderly patients treated with MIPD showed comparable outcomes to non-elderly patients.

Conclusions:

  • MIPD is a safe and feasible option for select elderly patients when performed by experienced surgeons at high-volume centers.
  • Further randomized controlled trials are needed to validate these findings.
  • MIPD offers potential benefits for elderly patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.