The surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis, benign, borderline and low-grade malignant tumors of the pancreatic head is definite in effect. How to preserve more functional organs is the focus of such surgeries. The duodenum, common bile duct and Oddi’s sphincter-preserving pancreatic head total resection (DCOPPHTR) surgical method pioneered by the author team has theoretical advantages compared to other surgical methods. However, due to the difficulty of surgical operation and higher requirements for surgeons, its widespread application is limited. By elaborating on the invention principle and evolution process of this surgery, analyzing the key steps in detail and showing the clinical effects, the author proves that DCOPPHTR is safe and effective and has higher clinical application value.
ObjectiveTo compare the perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (LDPPHR) and minimally invasive enucleation (MIEN) in the treatment of benign or low-grade malignant tumors of the pancreatic head. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent LDPPHR (n=30) and MIEN (n=38) at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between March 2021 and November 2024. The perioperative outcomes of the LDPPHR and MIEN groups were compared. Preoperative assessment of tumors in the MIEN group showed that they were partially or completely encircling the main pancreatic duct. ResultsThe MIEN group had a significantly shorter operative time compared to the LDPPHR group (229.0 vs. 388.5 min, P<0.001), with less intraoperative blood loss (100.0 vs. 200.0 mL, P=0.028). Regarding the management of the main pancreatic duct, 26.3% (10/38) of patients in the MIEN group had an intact and unexposed main pancreatic duct, 10.5% (4/38) had exposed but undamaged ducts, 7.9% (3/38) had duct injury repaired with simple suture, and 55.3% (21/38) required stenting for duct repair and reconstruction following injury. Although the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula was higher in the MIEN group compared to the LDPPHR group (73.7% vs. 43.3%, P=0.022), no significant differences were observed between the two groups in other perioperative outcomes (such as postoperative length of stay, discharge rate with drainage tube, and Clavien-Dindo complication grading, all P>0.05). One patient in the MIEN group required reoperation due to early postoperative hemorrhage. ConclusionsMIEN is a feasible surgical option for treating benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic head tumors with involvement of the main pancreatic duct. It shows significant advantages, particularly in terms of preserving organ function and maintaining normal anatomical structures. Despite the higher incidence of pancreatic fistula, no significant differences were observed in other perioperative outcomes compared to LDPPHR. Therefore, MIEN holds great promise in the treatment of pancreatic head tumors, especially for younger patients with a strong desire for function preservation.