Oncological survival in pancreatic head ductal carcinoma: hybrid minimally invasive versus open pancreatoduodenectomy - a single centre analysis.

BACKGROUND

Surgery remains the only curative treatment option for pancreatic head cancer. Laparoscopic surgical techniques are increasingly used, in line with the development of visceral surgery as a whole. The success of surgery is measured by the oncological outcome. Aim of this study is to evaluate the oncological outcome and survival after laparoscopic assisted resection of the pancreatic head compared to open surgery for ductal adenocarcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were collected in a prospectively maintained database. Perioperative and oncological outcomes of 182 laparoscopic pancreatic head resections for ductal carcinoma were compared with 585 open pancreatic head resections. The laparoscopic procedures were performed between 2010 and 2022, the open procedures between 2002 and 2022.

RESULTS

Laparoscopic procedure was significantly superior in terms of intraoperative blood loss (575 vs. 600 ml, P =0.021) and operative time (413 vs. 427 min, P =0.033). Tumor size (25 vs. 27 mm, P =0.028), need for portal vein resection ( P =0.009) and blood transfusion ( P =0.004) were significantly greater in the open group ( P =0.009). The resection margin remained negative significantly more often in the laparoscopic group (159 [87%] vs. 449 [77%], P <0.001). There was no difference in postoperative mortality and morbidity. Postoperative survival at 5 years was significantly better in the laparoscopic group (37 vs. 15%, P <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort, patients who underwent hybrid laparoscopic resection of pancreatic head cancer showed a significantly improved oncological outcome. Most of these effects are due to selection bias, which is not captured by the clinical parameters used to date. Our results highlight the need for additional prognostic factors in pancreatic cancer.