[Is pancreatectomy with resection of the retro-pancreatic vessels for cancer justified?].

AIM OF THE STUDY: Tumoural invasion of the retropancreatic vessels and particularly of the superior mesentericoportal vein confluence (SMPV) is often considered as a contraindication to resection of malignant tumours of the pancreas. The aim of this retrospective study is to report a series of 20 patients and to demonstrate that resection of the vessels supposed to be involved is justified when it is the only barrier to a complete tumoural resection. PATIENTS AND
METHOD: Twenty patients, 11 men and nine women (mean age: 61.7 years) underwent a right (n = 14), left (n = 2) or total (n = 4) pancreatic resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n = 19) or cystadenocarcinoma (n = 1) associated with partial resection of SMPV (n = 17), inferior vena cava (n = 1), right hepatic artery (n = 1) and common hepatic artery (n = 1). The veins were reconstructed in all cases by end to end anastomosis and the arteries by direct suture in one patient and venous or artery graft in two patients.
RESULTS: Tumoural invasion was histologically present in the vascular wall in nine patients, in the perivascular area in six and negative in five. The in-hospital mortality was nil. One patient had an early venous thrombosis of the repaired SMPV which was reoperated and treated with success by desobstruction and venous graft. The 3-year actuarial survival rate was 16%.
CONCLUSION: Segmental venous resection of the SMPV confluence can be performed safely. Localised invasion of the vascular wall, considered as the only obstacle for a complete tumoural resection, is not associated with a poor prognosis. In case of tight adhesions between tumour and SMPV (inflammatory or tumoural) the venous resection may be included in a deliberate surgical strategy. On the other hand, total obstruction of SMPV, extrapancreatic tumoural extension, tumoural invasion of superior mesenteric artery or coeliac trunk are contraindications to pancreatic resection.