A hybrid approach for chronic pancreatitis: combination of laparoscopic assisted distal pancreatectomy and open Frey procedure.
BACKGROUND
The treatment of chronic pancreatitis requires a surgical approach in patients who are refractory to medical therapy. During surgical treatment, ductal decompression is required, but a pancreatectomy is necessary for some patients, such as those with severe stenosis of the pancreatic duct. Indeed, suboptimal procedures lead to recurrent pancreatitis. We used a laparoscopic hybrid approach for patients with severe stenosis of the pancreatic duct. In this report, we present the feasibility and outcomes of our approach.


METHODS
We selected a laparoscopic approach for the distal pancreatectomy, which is relatively safe and the effect of reducing the length of the wound is substantial. We selected an open approach for the Frey procedure because complete ductal compression has a high risk for injury to the vessels posterior to the pancreas. We recorded the operative outcomes, postoperative complications, and recurrence of pancreatitis.


RESULTS
We performed the laparoscopic hybrid approach on 3patients between January and December 2018. There were no major intraoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification IIIa or more) and the postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. There were no recurrences of pancreatitis and no postoperative pain in all patients in > 2 years of follow-up.


CONCLUSION
Our hybrid method with a focus on complete ductal compression with safety and minimal invasiveness might be the optimal approach for the surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis that requires a pancreatectomy with the Frey procedure.
['Saito|Kenta|K|', 'Matsuo|Yoichi|Y|http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9654-6080', 'Ueda|Goro|G|', 'Omi|Kan|K|', 'Hayashi|Yuichi|Y|', 'Imafuji|Hiroyuki|H|', 'Tsuboi|Ken|K|', 'Morimoto|Mamoru|M|', 'Ogawa|Ryo|R|', 'Takahashi|Hiroki|H|', 'Naitoh|Itaru|I|', 'Hayashi|Kazuki|K|', 'Kataoka|Hiromi|H|', 'Takiguchi|Shuji|S|']
D006801:Humans D010535:Laparoscopy D010180:Pancreatectomy D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic
Hybrid approach Chronic pancreatitis Frey procedure Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy