Laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy in the palliation of pancreatic cancer: reflections on the preliminary results

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of laparoscopic gastroenteric and cholecystenteric bypass procedures for palliation of inoperable cancer of the pancreas. Between July 1994 and January 1996, five patients underwent laparoscopic gastroenterostomy for duodenal obstruction due to pancreatic cancer. There were four men and one woman, ranging in age from 53 to 72 years (median 63). Four patients already had endoscopic biliary decompression. One patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystojejunostomy for biliary obstruction at the time of the laparoscopic gastroenterostomy. The procedure was completed laparoscopically in all patients. There was no perioperative mortality, and the morbidity was low. The median post-operative stay was 4 days (range, 4-6). Laparoscopic gastroenterostomy associated with cholecystojejunostomy in selected cases offers a less invasive alternative than open surgery, with a shorter hospital stay and more rapid return to normal activity.