Luis Sabater-Ortí

Considerations on pancreatic exocrine function after pancreaticoduodenectomy

The pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) procedure may lead to pancreatic exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. There are several types of reconstruction for this kind of operation. Pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) was introduced to reduce the rate of postoperative pancreatic fistula. Although some randomized control trials have shown no differences regarding pancreatic leakage between PG and pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ), recently some reports reveal benefits from the PG over the PJ. Some surgeons concern about the performing of the PG and inactivation of pancreatic enzymes being in contact with the gastric juice, and the detrimental results over the exocrine pancreatic function. The pancreatic exocrine function can be measured with direct and indirect tests. Direct tests have the highest sensitivity and specificity for detection of exocrine insufficiency but require tube placement. Among the tubeless indirect tests, the van de Kamer stool fat analysis remains the standard to diagnose fat malabsorption. The patient compliance and time consuming makes it not so suitable for its clinical use. Fecal immunoreactive elastase test is employed for screening of exocrine insufficiency, is not cumbersome, and has been used to study pancreatic function after resection. We analyze the FE1 levels in our patients after the PD with two types of reconstruction, PG and PJ, and we discuss some considerations about the pancreaticointestinal drainage method after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Mild Acute Biliary Pancreatitis vs Cholelithiasis: Are There Differences in the Rate of Choledocholithiasis?

The rate of choledocholithiasis at the time of elective surgery after mild acute biliary pancreatitis is still unclear because it decreases rapidly after the onset. The aims of this study are as follows: (1) To investigate whether the incidence of choledocholithiasis in mild biliary pancreatitis is higher than in patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis. (2) To evaluate the usefulness of intraoperative cholangiography in the diagnosis of unsuspected choledocholithiasis in mild pancreatitis. Prospective study including 130 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery and classified into two groups: mild biliary pancreatitis (n = 44) and symptomatic cholelithiasis (n = 86). Choledocholithiasis was evaluated by endoscopic cholangiopancreatography, magnetic resonance, and intraoperative cholangiography. Preoperatively, choledocholithiasis was identified in five patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis and two with biliary pancreatitis (5.81 vs 4.54%; p = 0.472). In 117 cases (90%), intraoperative cholangiography was successfully performed, identifying unsuspected choledocholithiasis in five patients of the colelithiasis group and in three in the group of pancreatitis (5.81 vs 6.81%; p = 0.492). The total number of patients with choledocholithiasis in the whole series was 15 (11.5%); 11.6% in colelithiasis group vs 11.4% in biliary pancreatitis group; p = 0.605. The rate of choledocholithiasis was not significantly different between the groups of patients with mild acute biliary pancreatitis and symptomatic cholelithiasis. Intraoperative cholangiography identified unsuspected choledocholithiasis in 6.81% of patients with mild acute biliary pancreatitis.

Pathology handling of pancreatoduodenectomy specimens: Approaches and controversies

Pancreatic cancer, with a 5% 5-year survival rate, is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Western countries. Unfortunately, only 20% of all patients benefit from surgical treatment. The need to prolong survival has prompted pathologists to develop improved protocols to evaluate pancreatic specimens and their surgical margins. Hopefully, the new protocols will provide clinicians with more powerful prognostic indicators and accurate information to guide their therapeutic decisions. Despite the availability of several guidelines for the handling and pathology reporting of duodenopancreatectomy specimens and their continual updating by expert pathologists, there is no consensus on basic issues such as surgical margins or the definition of incomplete excision (R1) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This article reviews the problems and controversies that dealing with duodenopancreatectomy specimens pose to pathologists, the various terms used to define resection margins or infiltration, and reports. After reviewing the literature, including previous guidelines and based on our own experience, we present our protocol for the pathology handling of duodenopancreatectomy specimens.

Pathology Reporting of Resected Pancreatic/Periampullary Cancer Specimen

Pancreatic specimens have always been a great challenge for surgical pathologists due to their anatomic complexity and the difficulty of becoming familiar with these specimens. However, pancreatic specimens are becoming more and more common in many hospitals because of the improvements in surgical techniques and perioperative care that have dramatically reduced the postoperative mortality rate.

Síndrome del ducto pancreático desconectado: transección completa del páncreas secundaria a pancreatitis aguda

Disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome is a serious complication of acute pancreatitis which is defined by a complete discontinuity of the pancreatic duct, such that a viable side of the pancreas remains isolated from the gastrointestinal tract. This pancreatic disruption is infrequently observed in the clinical practice and its diagnostic and therapeutic management are controversial. We present an extreme case of disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome with complete duct disruption and pancreatic transection following acute pancreatitis, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic processes carried out.

What guidelines tell us about acute pancreatitis. A review of the last international guidelines

BackgroundSince the Atlanta Symposium several guidelines and consensus conferences have been published to improve the management and understanding of patients with acute pancreatitis. Herein, a review of the most recent guidelines on acute pancreatitis is carried out, trying to find differences and similarities.MethodsFive of the last international guidelines on acute pancreatitis as well as the last consensus conference are critically reviewed.ConclusionsThere is more consensus than disagreement between guidelines, which is why the knowledge of them is of great importance when treating AP.