Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy was first performed by Garner and Pomp in 1994. This is a technically difficult, time consuming and high rate of complication procedure. The reason is that duodenum and head of pancreas locate deeply in retroperitoneum and are surrounded by important structures such as inferior vena cava, abdominal aorta, superior mesenteric artery, superior mesenteric vein (SMV), portal vein (PV) and hepatic arteries. Injuring these structures during the surgery can lead to life-threatening complications. Moreover, doing anastomoses through laparoscopy, especially pancreatic anastomosis, is more difficult and takes more time than through open approach. The outcome of PD has improved over the last two decades due to advances in surgical techniques, anesthesia and perioperative care. Although studies from high volume centers demonstrate reduce in the operative mortality to less than 3%, the postoperative morbidity rate is still ranging from 30% to 60%. Laparoscopic surgery is being used increasingly as a less invasive alternative to traditional interventions for pancreatic resection. Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) is a difficult procedure that has become increasingly popular. Nevertheless, comparative data on outcomes remain limited. In this prospective study, investigators evaluate the safety and feasibility of surgical and oncological outcomes of minimally invasive PD.