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. 2019 Oct;8(6):2416-2424.
doi: 10.21037/tcr.2019.09.50.

TRIANGLE operation for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer in total pancreatectomy

Shuyu Zhai #  1 , Zhen Huo #  1 , Yue Wang #  1 , Hao Qian  1 , Shulin Zhao  1 , Yusheng Shi  1 , Yuanchi Weng  1 , Xiaxing Deng  1 , Baiyong Shen  1
Affiliations

TRIANGLE operation for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer in total pancreatectomy

Shuyu Zhai et al. Transl Cancer Res. 2019 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive cancer featured by early metastasis and multiple chemoresistance. Surgical resection remains the only way for the radical cure of pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the safety, feasibility and oncological effect of the Heidelberg TRIANGLE operation in total pancreatectomy (TP) for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC).

Methods: Patients with BRPC eligible for TP were selected and underwent total pancreatectomy with Heidelberg TRIANGLE operation. Sharp dissection was applied to separate tumor and involved artery. Then we completely dissected the soft tissues surround celiac axis (CA) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in each case. If superior mesenteric vein (SMV) or portal vein (PV) were invaded by the tumor, resection and reconstruction of veins were performed. Operation time, blood loss, post-operative complications, perioperative mortality, number of lymph node examined and R0 resection rate were collected and analyzed.

Results: Nine BRPC patients underwent TRIANGLE operation in TP. No perioperative death occurred. 3 cases developed postoperative complications: biliary leakage and colon fistula in 1 case and lymphatic leakage in 2 cases. The R0 resection rate of operation was 88.89% (8/9).

Conclusions: For patients with BRPC, upfront surgery should be encouraged when they were unwilling or unable to received neoadjuvant therapy. Especially for those patients with artery involvement eligible for TP, TRIANGLE operation can help to achieve arterial sparing resection. Thus, the risk of postoperative hemorrhage for vascular reconstruction and skeletonization can be reduced. After postoperative adjuvant therapy, the prognosis is acceptable.

Keywords: Pancreatic cancer; general surgery; pancreatectomy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tcr.2019.09.50). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT scan of patients eligible for TRIANGLE operation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pictures taken during surgery. The triangle indicates CA, SMA and PV/SMV, which are involved in TRIANGLE operation. CA, celiac axis; SMA, superior mesenteric artery; SMV, superior mesenteric vein; PV, portal vein.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Perioperative data collected in recent years and in TRIANGLE operation. (A) Operating time, (B) blood loss, (C) lymph node number and (D) number of positive lymph node.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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