Laparoscopic versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma: long-term results at a single institution

Background Pancreaticoduodenectomy remains as the only treatment that offers a chance for cure in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) of the head of the pancreas. In recent years, laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) has been introduced as a feasible alternative to open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) when performed by experienced surgeons. This study reviews and compares perioperative results and long-term survival of patients undergoing LPD versus OPD at a single institution over a 20-year time period. Methods From 1995 to 2014, 612 patients underwent PD and 251 patients were found to have PDAC. These latter patients were reviewed and divided into two groups: OPD (n = 193) and LPD (n = 58). LPD was introduced in November 2008 and performed simultaneous to OPD within the remaining time period. Ninety-day perioperative outcomes and long-term survival were analyzed. Results Patient demographics were well matched. Operative time was significantly longer with LPD, but blood loss and transfusion rate were lower. Postoperative complications, intensive care unit stay, and overall hospital stay was similar. OPD was associated with larger tumor size; LPD was associated with greater lymph node harvest and lower lymph node ratio. LPD was performed by hand-assist method in 3 (5.2 %) patients and converted to open in 14 (24.1 %). Neoadjuvant therapy was performed in 17 (8.8 %) patients for OPD and 4 (6.9 %) for LPD. The estimated median survival was 20.3 months for OPD and 18.5 months for LPD. Long-term survival was similar for 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year survival for OPD (68, 40, 24, 17 and 15 %) and for LPD (67, 43, 43, 38 and 32 %), respectively. Conclusion LPD provides similar short-term outcomes and long-term survival to OPD in the treatment of PDAC.