Laparoscopic versus open radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy for pancreatic cancer: a single-institution...

Laparoscopic distal pancreatosplenectomy is an effective and safe surgical modality for treating benign and borderline distal pancreatic tumors, but rarely for pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to compare the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic and open radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy for pancreatic cancer.

Fifty-one patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy at Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital between January 2014 and July 2018 were enrolled. 20 patients underwent laparoscopic radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy and 31 patients received open radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy. Postoperative and short-term outcomes of the two groups of patients were analyzed.

The mean operation time, length of postoperative hospital stay, and overall postoperative morbidity were similar in the two groups (P>0.05). The laparoscopic radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy group lost less blood (252.5±198.3 vs. 472.6±428.0 mL, P=0.037) and had lower transfusion rates (10.0% vs. 35.4%, P=0.041) than the open radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy group. The laparoscopic group also had statistically significantly earlier passing of first flatus (2.5±0.8 vs. 3.2±1.2 days, P=0.028) and first oral intake (2.9±1.0 vs. 3.7±1.6 days, P=0.042). Furthermore, the rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula (45.0% vs. 32.3%) and overall complications (70.0% vs. 74.2%) were not statistically difference between the two groups. The survival rates at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery were not statistically difference between the laparoscopic and open groups (94.4% vs. 93.5, 67.0% vs. 78.0%, and 50.2% vs. 38.3%, respectively).

The results of this study show that laparoscopic radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy is feasible and safe for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.