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Minimally Invasive Pancreatectomy for Cancer: A Critical Review of the Current Literature

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has transformed operative practices by offering patients procedures with reduced hospital stay and recovery compared to that of open operations. In spite of the advantages of a MIS approach, the application to pancreatectomy has only recently emerged. This review aims to analyze and discuss available comparative studies as they relate to resection techniques for treatment of malignant disease. A PubMed search was used to obtain original studies and meta-analyses relating to MIS pancreatectomy from 2008 to 2013. Several studies were identified that reported on the application of MIS specifically to the treatment of cancer, many of which were retrospective, single-institution studies. Notwithstanding an inherent selection bias, several studies suggest that MIS can provide equivalent R0 resection rates, number of lymph nodes harvested, and survival to that of open resection. Furthermore, parameters such as blood loss and length of stay are significantly reduced in patients treated with MIS. The current literature supports the conclusion that MIS is safe and effective as a treatment for cancer in well-selected patients in the hands of experienced surgeons. However, the published studies to date are observational in nature and therefore higher quality studies will be needed to support the application and generalizability of MIS in the treatment of pancreatic malignancies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, 4642 JCP, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1086, USA

    Trenton L. Place & James J. Mezhir

  2. Division of Gastrointestinal, Minimally-Invasive and Bariatric Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, 4642 JCP, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1086, USA

    Peter Nau

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Correspondence to James J. Mezhir.

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Place, T.L., Nau, P. & Mezhir, J.J. Minimally Invasive Pancreatectomy for Cancer: A Critical Review of the Current Literature. J Gastrointest Surg 19, 375–386 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-014-2695-x

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