Surgical Anatomy of the Superior Mesenteric Vessels Related to Pancreaticoduodenectomy: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background and purpose: Mesopancreas dissection with central vascular ligation and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA)-first approach represent the cornerstone of current principles for radical resection for pancreatic head cancer. The surgeon dissecting around the SMV and SMA should be aware regarding the anatomical variants in this area. The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis are to detail the surgical anatomy of the superior mesenteric vessels and to propose a standardized terminology with impact in pancreatic cancer surgery.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search to identify all published studies in PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases from their inception up to March 2017.

Results: Seventy-eight studies, involving a total of 18,369 specimens, were included. The prevalence of the mesenteric-celiac trunk, replaced/accessory right hepatic artery (RRHA), common hepatic artery, and SMV inversion was 2.8, 13.2, 2.6, and 4.1%, respectively. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery has its origin into the first jejunal artery, SMA, and RRHA, in 58.7, 35.8, and 1.2% of cases, respectively. The SMV lacks a common trunk in 7.5% of cases. The first jejunal vein has a trajectory posterior to the SMA in 71.8% of cases. The left gastric vein drains into the portal vein in 58%, in splenic vein (SV) in 35.6%, and into the SV-PV confluence in 5.8% of cases.

Conclusions: Complex pancreaticoduodenal resections require detailed knowledge of the superior mesenteric artery and vein, which is significantly different from the one presented in the classical textbooks of surgery. We are proposing the concept of the first jejunopancreatic vein which impacts the current oncological principles of pancreatic head cancer resection.

Keywords: Anatomical variants; Classification system; Meta-analysis; Pancreatic cancer; Superior mesenteric artery; Superior mesenteric vein.