[Is pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein resection indicated in patients with ductal pancreatic carcinoma?].

Infiltration of the portal vein is almost always regarded as a contraindication for pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, progress in many fields has changed the postoperative situation and mortality of pancreaticoduodenectomy is now below 5%. The aim of the present study was therefore to actually evaluate morbidity, mortality and prognosis of extended pancreaticoduodenectomy combined with protal vein resection for adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head. Between September 1985 and May 1997 315 patients with a ductal pancreatic carcinoma were treated in our hospital. Resection was possible in 96 cases (partial pancreaticoduodenectomy n = 82, total pancreaticoduodenectomy n = 5, left pancreatic resection n = 9). In 10 cases the portal vein or the mesenteric vein had to be resected. Postoperative complications were seen in 25% of all cases after pancreaticoduodenectomy without portal vein resection and in 20% following extended pancreaticoduodenectomy. The mortality was 5% resp. 0% in both groups. The median survival time of patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy without portal vein resection was 11.9 months (R0 resection: 13.6 months; R1/2 resection 8 months) in contrast to 13.4 months in cases with portal vein resection. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that in special cases of adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head extended pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein resection may be indicated. These patients show a better prognosis than those after palliative procedures. Morbidity and mortality of pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein resection is not higher as compared to pancreaticoduodenectomy alone.