Laparoscopic Resection of Pediatric Solid Pseudopapillary Tumors of the Pancreas

Background Solid pseudopapillary tumors (SPTs) of the pancreas arise rarely in children, are often large, and can associate intimately with splenic vessels. Splenic preservation is a fundamental consideration when resecting distal SPT. Occasionally, the main splenic vessels must be divided to resect the SPT with negative margins, but the spleen can be preserved if the short gastric vessels remain intact (ie, Warshaw procedure). The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of distal pancreatectomy (DP) for SPT in children and to highlight 2 cases of splenic preservation using the Warshaw procedure. Methods Patients 19 years and younger who were treated at a single children’s hospital between July 2004 and January 2021 were examined. Patient characteristics were collected from the electronic medical record. A pediatric radiologist calculated SPT and pre- and post-operative (ie, non-infarcted) splenic volumes. Results Eleven patients received DP for SPT. Six DPs were performed open and 5 laparoscopically. The spleen was preserved in 3 open and 4 laparoscopic DPs. A laparoscopic Warshaw procedure was performed in 2 patients. Laparoscopic resection associated with less frequent epidural use ( P = .015), shorter time to full diet ( P = .030), and post-operative length of stay ( P = .009), compared to open resection. Average residual splenic volume after the laparoscopic Warshaw procedure was 70% of preoperative volume. Discussion Laparoscopic DP for pediatric SPT achieved similar oncologic goals to open resection. Splenic preservation was feasible with laparoscopy in most cases and was successfully supplemented with the Warshaw procedure, which has not been previously reported for SPT resection in children.

V-OG02 Video Demonstration Of Abdominal Lymphadenectomy In A Robotically Assisted Oesophagectomy

Background Lymphadenectomy is essential for adequate oncological clearance and accurate staging during oesophagectomy for malignant disease. Adequate lymph node clearance has implications on patient outcomes and confers a survival benefit. Abdominal lymph node clearance may be technically challenging due to the location of nodes along key structures such as the common hepatic artery and splenic vessels. Robotic assistance during abdominal lymphadenectomy permits improved 3-D visualisation and instrument articulation in a potentially constricted space. This video demonstrates a technique for robotic abdominal lymphadenectomy during oesophagectomy. Methods This video demonstrates a technique for coeliac axis lymph node clearance during the abdominal phase of an oesophagectomy, as practiced at this institution. The intention for such a video is for ongoing appraisal and refinement of robotic techniques within the unit, as well as for teaching and training. The video was edited using iOS software, and text has been used to explain each step in conjunction with the images. Results Dissection of all relevant coeliac axis nodal stations is successfully demonstrated, with the lymph nodes resected en-bloc with the specimen. Text has also been used to explain the steps seen in the video images. Conclusions Robotic assistance permits safe and adequate lymphadenectomy during minimally invasive oesophagectomy, as demonstrated in this video.

Importance of the vessel distribution at splenic hilum for laparoscopic Warshaw procedure

The laparoscopic Warshaw procedure (LWP) is a considered to carry a risk of splenic infarction and perigastric varices formation. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes and relationship between the distribution of the splenic hilum vessels and splenic infarction in patients who underwent LWP from February 2007 to February 2017. A total of 19 patients underwent LWP, and the median follow-up duration was 78 months. The median operative time and blood loss were 295 min and 200 gr. Six patients with splenic partial infarction and 3 with gastric varices were detected, but they have not needed any treatments. According to the classification by Michels, the distribution of splenic vessels were divided as distributed type and magistral type at the splenic hilum. In our study, 16 patients were distributed type and 3 were magistral type. Three of the 16 patients developed splenic infarction in distributed type. In contrast, all of magistral patients showed splenic infarction. Although LWP is a safe procedure, there is a high risk of splenic infarction if the splenic vessel distribution is a magistral type. Understanding the type before surgery leads to the identification of an appropriate vascular dissection position and reduces postoperative complications.