Distal Pancreatectomy With Splenectomy, Celiac Axis and Portal Vein Resection Followed by Arterial Reconstruction Using a Cadaveric Graft - A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Locally advanced pancreatic body tumors invading the celiac axis and the portal vein have been considered since long as unresectable lesions; however, due to improvement of surgical techniques, in certain cases surgery with curative intent might be taken in consideration.

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a 48-year-old female investigated for epigastric pain that was diagnosed with a locally invasive pancreatic body tumor. The patient was submitted to computed tomography which revealed the presence of a locally advanced pancreatic tumor with no demarcation line with the celiac axis and the portal vein. The endoscopic ultrasound raised the suspicion of malignancy and retrieved a biopsy which demonstrated the presence of a pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The patient was submitted to surgery, distal pancreatectomy en bloc with splenectomy, celiac axis and portal vein resection was performed; the hepatic artery was reconstructed by placing a cadaveric graft while the portal vein was sutured per primam by an end to end anastomosis. The postoperative outcome was favorable, and the patient was discharged in the 10 postoperative day.

CONCLUSION

Multiple vascular resections followed by reconstructions might be needed in order to achieve resection with negative margins in patients with pancreatic body tumors.