Da Vinci robotic assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy with superior mesenteric vein resection and reconstruction

Abstract

This study demonstrated Da Vinci robot assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy with superior mesenteric vein (SMV) resection and reconstruction. The patient was diagnosed with pancreatic head cancer preoperatively. After anesthesia, trocars were placed by “six-hole method”, and then constant pressure pneumoperitoneum was established. The first step was to remove the gallbladder, open the gastrocolonic ligament, and expose the pancreas and surrounding tissues. After making a Kocher incision, we dissected duodenum, inferior vena cava and uncinate process of pancreas, and then cleaned lymph nodes in groups 13 and 16A. After the stomach was severed using linear stapler, the right gastric artery was dissected and ligated. In this case, the adhesion around the pancreas and common hepatic artery was serious, so the pancreas was transected firstly. The gastroduodenal artery was dissected from the upper edge of the pancreas, and the lymph nodes in groups 7, 8, 9 and 12 were cleaned to expose the common bile duct and portal vein. The common bile duct was transected above the confluence plane of the cystic duct. After opening the colonic mesentery on the left side of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), the jejunum was severed with a linear cutting obturator. The uncinate process was treated through the middle artery approach; the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery was severed and lymph nodes were cleaned to the root of SMA and celiac trunk. The tumor and part of the invaded SMV were removed and end-to-end SMV anastomosis was performed. The proper hepatic artery was wrapped with the round hepatic ligament. To protect the stump of gastroduodenal artery, we padded the round hepatic ligament below the pancreaticoduodenal anastomosis. The modified Blumgart method was used for pancreaticointestinal duct to mucosal anastomosis. 4-0 ​V-Lock suture was used for continuous suture of posterior wall and anterior wall respectively, and finally gastrointestinal side-to-side anastomosis was performed. The operation time was 360 ​min and the intraoperative bleeding was 200 ​mL. The patient was discharged 7 days after operation.