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A 64-year-old man presented with epigastric pain and underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Ruptured aneurysm of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery was diagnosed. TAE was successfully accomplished using coils, but vomiting appeared 9 days later. Duodenal stenosis was diagnosed from contrast-enhanced computed tomography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and was attributed to edematous changes in the duodenum. Conservative management led to successful recovery and discharge.

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of preventive covered stent placement at the gastroduodenal artery stump in patients with angiogram-negative sentinel hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Between July 2006 and September 2018, patients undergoing computed tomography angiography or diagnostic angiography for sentinel hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Patients having angiogram-negative angiography and undergoing preventive covered stent placement or conservative treatment were included. Clinical outcomes, technique success, and complications were evaluated. A total of 25 patients (mean age 62.5 years) were evaluated, including 15 patients underwent preventive covered stent placement at the gastroduodenal artery stump and 10 patients received conservative treatments. The clinical success rates were 50% (5/10) and 86.7% (13/15) for conservative treatments and covered stent groups, respectively (p = 0.07). In the conservative treatment group, delayed massive hemorrhage occurred in five patients, two of whom died of recurrent bleeding due to gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm within 16 days, and two had intraluminal hemorrhage within 5 days. In the covered stent group, one patient had inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm 1 day after the placement of the covered stent, and one had recurrent bleeding due to duodenal ulcer within 14 days. The 30-day mortality was 40% (4/10) and 0 in the conservative treatment and covered stent groups, respectively (p = 0.02). The difference in the overall survival was nonsignificant between the two groups (p = 0.23). The preventive covered stent placement at the gastroduodenal artery stump is safe and reduces delayed massive hemorrhage and short-term mortality in patients with angiogram-negative sentinel hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

We found a variational case relating to the arteries distributed to the liver and pancreas during the routine cadaver dissection course. The common hepatic artery originated from the superior mesenteric artery as the first branch. The common hepatic artery was soon divided into the left and right hepatic arteries and distributed to the left and right lobe of the liver. The superior pancreaticoduodenal artery arose from the gastroduodenal artery, a branch of the left hepatic artery. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery originated from the superior mesenteric artery. Besides, two posterior branches of the right hepatic artery supplied the duodenum and the head of the pancreas. The arterial arcades were formed behind the head of the pancreas among the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery and these two posterior branches of the right hepatic artery. In conclusion, this case can be considered a rare case in which the replaced common hepatic artery and replaced right hepatic artery occurred simultaneously. The coexisting of these two replaced arteries suggests that the developmental processes to form these variations are independent.

A plate-like structure is located posterior to the portal vein system, between the pancreatic head and roots and/or branches of two major arteries of the aorta: the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery. We aimed to clarify the distribution and components of this plate-like structure. Macroscopic examination of the upper abdomen and histological examination of the plate-like structure were performed on 26 cadavers. The plate-like structure is connected to major arteries (aorta, celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery) and the pancreatic head; it contains abundant fibrous bundles comprising nerves, vessels, collagen fibers, and adipose tissue. Furthermore, it consists of three partly overlapping fibrous components: rich fibrous bundles (superior mesenteric artery plexus) fused to the uncinate process of the pancreas; fibrous bundles arising from the right celiac ganglion and celiac trunk that spread radially to the dorsal side of the pancreatic head and superior mesenteric artery plexus; and fibrous bundles, accompanied by the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, entering the pancreatic head. The plate-like structure is the pancreas–major arteries (aorta, celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery) ligament (P–A ligament). The term “P–A ligament” may be clinically useful and can facilitate comprehensive understanding of the anatomy surrounding the pancreatic head and provide an anatomical basis for further pancreatic surgery studies.

Early division of the dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) or its branches to the uncinate process during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in addition to early division of the gastroduodenal artery and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery should be performed to reduce blood loss by completely avoiding venous congestion. However, the significance of early division of DPA or its branches to the uncinate process has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the anatomy of DPA and its branches to the uncinate process using the currently available high-resolution dynamic computed tomography (CT) as the first step to investigate the significance of DPA in the artery-first approach during PD. Preoperative dynamic thin-slice CT data of 160 consecutive patients who underwent hepato–pancreato–biliary surgery were examined focusing on the anatomy of DPA and its branches to the uncinate process. DPA was recognized in 103 patients (64%); it originated from the celiac axis or its branches in 70 patients and from the superior mesenteric artery or its branches in 34 patients. The branches to the uncinate process were visualized in 82 patients (80% of those with DPA), with diameters of 0.5–1.5 mm in approximately 80% of the 82 patients irrespective of DPA origin. DPA branches to the uncinate process were recognized using high-resolution CT in approximately half of the patients.

Introduction: Median arcuate ligament or Dunbar syndrome is a rare vascular disorder causing celiac trunk stenosis or occlusion due to the extrinsic compression by the median arcuate ligament. A visceral aneurysm may develop as a complication.Patients and methods: We experienced an inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm presentation in two female patients with the median arcuate syndrome previously diagnosed. One patient presented with postprandial abdominal pain and weight loss and the other one was asymptomatic.Results: We described our experience with the both patients being successfully treated surgically.Conclusions: Awareness of possible repercussions of the celiac trunk stenosis to peripancreatic arteries should be elevated. Restoration of physiological blood flow by removing pathologic anatomy should be performed. Since there is no correlation between the size of a visceral aneurysm and the risk of rupture, having a high postrupture mortality, pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms should be treated even if asymptomatic. Surgical treatment remains the mainstay treatment of the Dunbar syndrome complicated by visceral aneurysms.

Intra-abdominal and intramural hematomas are well-known complications of pseudoaneurysms. We present a case of small bowel obstruction as a result of external mechanical compression from hematoma. Bleeding was localized to the pseudoaneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery. Angiography was used to control the bleeding with coil embolization. This rare clinical manifestation represents just one of the symptoms associated with pseudoaneurysms of the gastrointestinal tract. Therapeutic options are discussed along with a review of the literature.

Visceral artery aneurysms, which could be either true or pseudo, are abnormal focal dilations of vessels supplying the abdominal organs. True aneurysms, by definition, suggest dilation of the vessel in response to increased blood flow, ultimately causing a blood-filled sac to form. Pseudoaneurysm, however, is the pooling of blood in surrounding tissues secondary to trauma or rupture. A 43-year-old woman G9 P9, known hypertensive was admitted electively for investigation of melena, hematemesis, hematochezia for one week along with weight loss and epigastric pain. Laboratory studies showed mild anemia with a hemoglobin level of 9.6 g/dL, hematocrit 29.5%, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) 26.7, upon which she was transfused two pints of blood and commenced at Injectable Vitamin K, injectable transamine, and infusion omeprazole. Two days later her levels improved to HB 12.4 g/dL, hematocrit 37.5%, MCH 26.7 pg, RBC 4.64 × 10*12/L. while being on treatment, a computed tomography (CT) mesenteric angiography was also conducted that showed multiple splanchnic pseudoaneurysms involving celiac axis trifurcation, gastroduodenal artery, superior/inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, and jejunoileal branch of the superior mesenteric artery, and a large partially thrombosed pseudoaneurysm arising from superior pancreaticoduodenal branch causing significant mass effect on the second part of duodenum. On the basis of such findings, it was advised to perform coiling and embolization of the corresponding arteries. Multiple other small aneurysms with secondary arteriovenous malformations (AVM) were also seen. The whole circuit of flow retrograde and antegrade along with the aneurysm sac was blocked with multiple coils of variable sizes. An angiogram was repeated that revealed a good outcome. Pseudoaneurysms of the visceral arteries are very rare and affect mainly the splenic artery. The rarest of which is gastroduodenal artery (1.5%), pancreaticoduodenal artery (2%), and coeliac truck (4%). Therefore, this can be an incidental finding. The diagnosis is usually made with an angiography combined with clinical presentation. Variable treatment options are available depending on the patient’s fitness and hemodynamic stability. The endovascular approach, however, is mostly used in such cases.

BACKGROUND: Many anatomical variations have been associated with the Celiac Trunk, of which most are classified as being asymptomatic. CASE PRESENTATION: In this article, we describe yet another anatomical variation involving the Celiac Trunk, Superior Mesenteric artery and the Inferior Pancreaticoduodenal Artery during routine cadaveric dissection. We identified a fourth branch of the Celiac trunk (quadrification) that communicated with the Superior Mesenteric artery at the point of origin of the Inferior Pancreaticoduodenal artery which we concluded to be the Anterior Inferior Pancreaticoduodenal artery. CONCLUSION: This anastomosis could be essential in the case of occlusion between the Celiac Trunk and the Superior Mesenteric artery.

BACKGROUND Aneurysm of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA) is rare among visceral artery aneurysms. Aneurysm and/or pancreatitis may have a causal relation with hemosuccus pancreaticus (HP). HP causes an obscure bleeding in the digestive tract, and this rare disease may lead to life-threatening condition. Although interventional radiology is generally employed as the initial treatment for visceral aneurysms, aneurysmic recanalization is a critical problem. CASE REPORT A 58-year-old male was incidentally diagnosed as groove pancreatitis, and his pancreatitis was successfully treated by conservative management. One year later, an IPDA aneurysm was detected in image studies. Gastrointestinal bleeding was objectively observed, and a diagnosis of asymptomatic HP was made. Arterio-pancreatic duct fistula was suspected, but was not identified. Coil embolization was successfully completed. Six months later, he suffered a relapse of HP, and visited our emergency unit. Pseudocystic lesion around metallic coils were confirmed. Subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy without any extended resections was performed. Intentional dissections of nerve plexuses and lymph nodes were all waived. Even a pancreatography of the resected specimen did not clarify his arterio-pancreatic duct fistula. He was discharged at postoperative day 10, and smoothly returned to his work. CONCLUSIONS Pancreatic juice-related complications after advanced pancreaticoduodenectomy for malignancies are often intractable. However, simple pancreaticoduodenectomy which omits extended resections and intentional dissections is safe and feasible for benign diseases. After the initial interventional radiology for pancreatic aneurysms, an elective pancreatic surgery should be considered to avoid unwanted recanalization and refractory HP.

Introduction: Arterial aneurysms of the pancreaticoduodenal arcade (PDA) represent approximately 2% of all aneurysms of visceral arteries. Despite a low incidence, this group of aneurysms is clinically significant due to its high risk of rupture. Case report: A 45 years old patient presented with a pancreaticoduodenal arcade aneurysm rupture along with a tight stenosis at the origin of the coeliac trunk. Retrograde blood flow from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) to the hepatic artery (HA) via PDA limited our therapeutic options due to the necessity to maintain liver perfusion. The patient was indicated for an interventional radiology procedure, which consisted of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with stent placement at the origin of the coeliac trunk and subsequent transarterial embolisation (TAE) – trapping of the aneurysm using coils. Due to clinical signs of the intra-abdominal compartment syndrome, within 24 hours of the radiological treatment, the patient was indicated for surgical revision (laparotomy). During the surgery, no signs of active bleeding were found; coagula were evacuated from the abdominal cavity (800 ml) and laparostomy was performed with a temporary closure using a grid. Final closure of the abdominal cavity was performed on postoperative day 20 from the initial procedure. Follow-up abdominal CT performed 22 months after TAE showed no recurrence of the aneurysm. Conclusion: Aneurysm rupture represents a serious case of acute abdomen which requires urgent treatment. The preferred method of treatment for ruptured PDA aneurysms is the endovascular intervention using TAE, which is associated with lower morbidity and mortality than the surgical intervention. Concurrent coeliac trunk stenosis requires consideration given the need to maintain sufficient liver perfusion after TAE of the PDA aneurysm, acting up to this point as a collateral circulation of the liver. The choice of the therapeutic approach should be individualised taking into account the above mentioned recommendations.

The peripancreatic arterial system forms various arterial arcades and collateral branches; therefore, it stands to reason that the arterial supply into the pancreatic head region should be controlled as a whole peripancreatic arterial arcade rather than as the three major supplying arteries during isolated pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). We investigated the clinical importance of early control of the whole peripancreatic arterial arcade during PD. The subjects of this retrospective study were 63 consecutive patients who underwent PD via a mesenteric approach at our hospital between October, 2014 and February, 2017. The patients were divided into an early control group (n = 27) and a late control group (n = 36) for comparative analysis. The peripancreatic arterial arcades and collateral branches were seen on preoperative multidetector row computed tomography (CT) images and during PD in all 63 patients. The early control group had significantly less intraoperative blood loss than the late control group. Early control of the whole peripancreatic arterial arcade was an independent factor associated with lower intraoperative blood loss in the multivariable analysis (P = 0.012). The arterial supply into the pancreatic head region should be controlled as a whole peripancreatic arterial arcade rather than as the three major supplying arteries during isolated PD.

Resumo Os aneurismas das artérias pancreatoduodenais constituem uma afecção rara. Seu diagnóstico é realizado, na maioria das vezes, em situações de emergência por complicações como a rotura, a qual está associada a altas taxas de mortalidade (21-26%). A embolização do saco aneurismático é o tratamento de escolha, devido à sua alta efetividade e menor mortalidade. Neste artigo, é apresentado e discutido um caso de aneurisma de artéria pancreatoduodenal inferior com diagnóstico obtido durante investigação de sintomas gastrointestinais. O tratamento instituído foi a embolização com micromolas, com completa exclusão do aneurisma e boa evolução clínica.

Purpose:Pseudoaneurysm (PA) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a harmful complication due to postoperative pancreatic fistula. However, the preventive method for PA is unclear. This study aimed to assess the risk factors for PA after PD and to evaluate the clinical features of patients with PA., Methods:Medical records of 54 patients who underwent PD and developed clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated postoperative computed tomography (CT) findings, including the perianastomotic fluid collection (PFC) location on postoperative day 4. Perioperative findings and postoperative CT findings were compared between patients with and without PA after PD., Results:The PA group included nine patients (17%). The median postoperative day of diagnosis of PA was 17 (range, 7-33). The PA locations were the gastroduodenal artery stump (n = 3), dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) stump from the common hepatic artery (n = 4), DPA stump from the replaced right hepatic artery (n = 1), and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery stump (n = 1). The prevalence of falciform ligament wrap to the hepatic artery was lower (33% vs. 78%, p = 0.014) and superior PFC prevalence was higher (100% vs. 58%, p = 0.019) in the PA group than in the non-PA group. Superior PFC reached the dorsal part of the caudate lobe of the liver in all patients with PA. Furthermore, all PAs occurred at the arteries that could not be wrapped by the falciform ligament., Conclusion:Prevention of superior PFC and falciform ligament wrapping may reduce PA occurrence after PD with clinically relevant POPF.

To describe the procedure for a left-side approach to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in a cadaveric study. After dividing the upper jejunum, the jejunal artery (JA) is followed to its origin. At the cranial side of the JA, the mesojejunum to be dissected is detached from the ventral to the dorsal side and from the peripheral to the origin side of the SMA. The inferior pancreatoduodenal artery (IPDA), which is usually the common trunk of the IPDA and the first JA, is able to be visualized at the cranio-dorsal side of the origin of the JA. After cutting the IPDA, the mesojejunum can be detached from the SMA from the dorsal aspect to the right side. Subsequently, the pancreas head is dissected easily from the right aspect of the SMA. This left-side approach to the SMA may become a standard procedure.

Mesopancreas excision in pancreatoduodenectomy is technically complicated because of the anatomical complexity of the mesopancreas with the inferior peripancreatic blood vessels which is caused by intestinal rotation in fetal life. We have developed a novel artery-first approach (the intestinal derotation procedure) for facilitating mesopancreas excision. The aim of this study was to clarify the vascular anatomy of the mesopancreas after derotation. The right-sided colon and small intestine are mobilized from the retroperitoneum, and the intestinal loop is then derotated. In 136 cases of pancreatoduodenectomy employing the derotation procedure, we analyzed the vascular anatomy of the mesopancreas. After derotation, the anatomy was simplified. The mesopancreas extended from the right aspect of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), forming a horizontal plane. The first jejunal trunk (FJT) was situated in parallel with the second jejunal artery and was anterior (91%) or posterior (9%) to the SMA. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein (IPDV) entered the right side of the FJT (83%) or the superior mesenteric vein (17%). Besides the IPDV, 1–4 tributaries entered the right wall of the FJT, in 89% of cases. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery was observed to originate from the right wall of the SMA, sharing a common stem with the first jejunal artery (70%) or branching directly from the SMA (29%). Intestinal derotation simplifies the mesopancreas anatomy and reveals the anatomical details of the inferior peripancreatic blood vessels in pancreatoduodenectomy.

Excision of the mesopancreas with lymphadenectomy is an important component of pancreatoduodenectomy. However, the optimal extent of lymphadenectomy remains unclear. Furthermore, accurate description of the mesopancreatic lymphatic pathways is difficult, probably because of the complex anatomy. Intestinal derotation simplifies the anatomy and facilitates both examination of lymphatic flow and the surgical procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate lymphatic flow in the mesopancreas using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging with an intestinal derotation technique, and to clarify the optimal extent of mesopancreas excision and lymphadenectomy in pancreatoduodenectomy. Indocyanine green solution (2.5 × 10−3 mg) was injected into the pancreatic head parenchyma. After intestinal derotation, the spread of indocyanine green was observed using near-infrared imaging. Participants comprised 10 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary neoplasms. With indocyanine green fluorescence imaging, 9 of the 10 patients showed lymphatic flow from the pancreatic head to the superior mesenteric artery via the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery and first jejunal artery (but not via the second and more distant arteries), with eventual drainage into the paraaortic region. Lymphatic pathways from the pancreatic head were connected to the superior mesenteric artery via the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery and first jejunal artery. Excision of the mesopancreas with the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery and first jejunal artery while preserving the second or more distant arteries appears optimal in pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary malignancies.

Hemosuccus pancreaticus is a very rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding and can be life-threatening if not managed appropriately. Still thought to be a surgical problem, advances in medical therapy now afford these patients the opportunity to undergo less-invasive angiography techniques to manage this illness when it occurs. Here, we present a case of hemosuccus pancreaticus safely managed with liquid N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate embolization.

Understanding the anatomy of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA) is important in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, especially in an artery-first approach, resulting in some studies focusing on IPDA anatomy. However, the studies have covered only cases without variation in hepatic arterial anatomy, a common arterial variant, suggesting the necessity of the investigation of IPDA anatomy in cases with the variant. Using images of multidetector row computed tomography, cases with replaced right hepatic artery (rRHA) were picked out among 714 patients undergoing multidetector row computed tomography for determining arteries of the pancreatic head at our institution. IPDA branching pattern was investigated in the rRHA cases. Three-dimensional reconstruction was performed to visually understand the branching pattern in representative cases. rRHA was identified in 139 cases (19.5%); rRHA originating from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) (type 1; 74.1%), celiac axis (type 2; 18.0%), and others (type 3; 7.9%). IPDA branching pattern was categorized; IPDA originated from SMA (type A), posterior and anterior IPDA originated from rRHA and SMA, respectively (type B), or IPDA originated from rRHA (type C). Of type 1 cases, 69, 23, and 11 cases showed type A, B, and C pattern, respectively. Of type 2 cases, 16 and 9 cases showed type A and B, respectively. All 11 type 3 cases showed type C. IPDA branching pattern was determined in the rRHA cases. This would help identification of rRHA cases where the artery-first approach is technically less feasible at pancreaticoduodenectomy (type 1-B, 1-C, and 2-B).

Few studies on the uncinate process-first approach in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) have been reported. The aim of this study is to compare the perioperative outcomes of LPD to open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) in terms of feasibility, safety, and efficacy using the uncinate process-first approach.This retrospective study included 102 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between 2013 and 2017. Patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical approach: the laparoscopic surgery group (n = 47) and open surgery group (n = 55). The clinical characteristics and intra- and postoperative data were retrospectively analysed.LPD was performed successfully in all 47 patients. The mean operation time was significantly longer in the LPD group (410 ± 68 min) than in the OPD group (245 ± 70 min; P 0.05). LPD produced significantly less intraoperative blood loss (210 ± 46 mL vs 420 ± 50 mL, P 0.05), shorter first flatus time (1.5 d vs 4 d, P 0.05) and shorter diet start time (2 d vs 5 d, P 0.05). The total hospital stay was significantly shorter in the LPD group, with a median of 13 ± 4 days versus 18 ± 5.5 days in the OPD group (P 0.05). The postoperative complication rates of the LPD group and OPD group were 21.3% and 27.3%, respectively (P 0.05). The rate of category I-II complications and rate of category III-IV complications did not significantly differ (P 0.05). Pancreatic fistulae occurred in 6 patients (12.8%) in the LPD group and 8 patients (14.5%) in the OPD group (P = 0.67). Delayed gastric emptying occurred in 2 patients (4.26%) in the LPD group and 2 patients in the OPD group (3.63%; P = 0.79). Postpancreatectomy haemorrhage was not significantly different between the groups (2.13% vs 3.63%; P = 0.66).LPD with the uncinate process-first approach combines the benefits of laparoscopy with a low risk of postoperative complications and high rate of curative resection.

Although the artery-first approach is widely used in open pancreaticoduodenectomy, it is difficult to laparoscopically expose the origin of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA) from the left side of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). By contrast, damaging the inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins (IPDVs) is possible when approaching the IPDA from the right side of the SMA. To facilitate the artery-first approach in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD), we focused on the proximal-dorsal jejunal vein (PDJV) that branched from the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) dorsal side and drained the IPDVs. This study aimed to clarify the usefulness of the right SMA approach using the PDJV preisolation method. The PDJV was first isolated, and the IPDVs were divided along the PDJV on the right side of the SMA. Then, the IPDA was divided at the root without first separating the pancreatic head from the portal vein and the SMV. Overall, 21 patients underwent this approach, and the results were retrospectively compared with those of 21 patients who underwent the artery-first approach, which was performed on the left side of the SMA. Anatomical characteristics of the PDJV were evaluated using multidetector computed tomography for the two groups. Operative times and resection times were significantly lower for the PDJV preisolation group than for the conventional LPD group (489.3 vs. 541.7 min, respectively; p = 0.002). During anatomical evaluation, 41 patients (97.6%) had a PDJV that drained from the SMV dorsally and was in contact with the anterior aspect of the uncinate process. The PDJV was confirmed as the first jejunal vein in 31 patients (73.8%) and as the second jejunal vein in 10 patients (23.8%). This approach facilitates dissection of the IPDA on the right side of the SMA, thereby reducing operative times.

Eine 46-jahrige Patientin stellte sich mit akuten rechtsseitigen Oberbauchschmerzen vor. In der Osophagogastroduodenoskopie wurde eine Duodenalstenose im Bereich der Pars horizontalis duodeni festgestellt. Die Computertomographie des Abdomens, Endosonographie, Doppler‑/Duplexsonographie und Angiographie ergaben in der Zusammenschau ein Aneurysma eines Asts der A. pancreaticoduodenalis inferior innerhalb eines Umgehungskreislaufs von der A. mesenterica superior zur A. hepatica propria. Die Umgehung hatte sich aufgrund eines Verschlusses des Truncus coeliacus gebildet. Die symptomatische Duodenalstenose wurde durch ein lokales Hamatom nach stattgehabter Aneurysmaruptur verursacht. Nach erfolgreichem Coiling des zufuhrenden Gefases zum Aneurysma war das Hamatom in Verlaufskontrollen regredient und die Patientin beschwerdefrei.

Background/Aim: During pancreatoduodenectomy, early ligation of major afferent arteries to pancreatic head prior to dissection of the corresponding veins may reduce intraoperative bleeding. Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA), one of the major afferent arteries, is difficult to identify. We measured the distance from left renal vein to IPDA based on preoperative multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) images for use as a new landmark for IPDA. Methods: The distance between left renal vein and IPDA was measured in 417 patients using MDCT images. Results: IPDA was identified on MDCT images in 415 out of the 417 patients (99.5%). The root of IPDA was located on cranial side of the root of left renal vein in 88 among the 415 patients (21.2%), and the distance was expressed as negative in these cases. The distance was 6.09 ± 7.46 mm. The distance when IPDA formed a common vessel with first jejunal artery (8.03 ± 6.74 mm; 323 cases, 77.8%) was significantly longer than when IPDA branched directly from superior mesenteric artery (SMA; -0.81 ± 5.74 mm; 62 cases, 15.0%) or posterior and anterior IPDAs branched separately from SMA (-2.04 ± 5.36 mm; 30 cases, 7.2%). Conclusions: The distance between left renal vein and IPDA can serve as a landmark for IPDA identification.

Background An accessory middle colic artery (AMCA) is an aberrant artery feeding the splenic flexure of the colon. Little is known about the branching pattern of an AMCA. We aimed to evaluate the branching pattern of the AMCA from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) with special reference to the pancreatic artery using multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) before surgery. Methods We investigated 112 patients who underwent contrast-enhancement MDCT before surgical resection of the pancreas between January 2015 and July 2018. The pancreatic branch from the AMCA was divided into the dorsal pancreatic artery (DPA) and the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA). The branching level and angle of the AMCA from the SMA were also evaluated. Results The AMCA was present in 27.7% of patients (n = 31/112). The AMCA branching pattern was classified into four types: type A, no branch from the AMCA (n = 20); type B, a common trunk with the DPA (n = 6); type C, a common trunk with the IPDA (n = 3); and type D, a common trunk with the DPA and IPDA (n = 2). The AMCA with the IPDA (types C and D) branched more proximally compared to the AMCA without the IPDA (P = 0.04). The AMCA branched vertically from the SMA in most cases (n = 24/31, 77.4%). Conclusions The AMCA had a pancreatic branch in 8.9% (10/112) of cases. Special attention should be paid to its branching pattern in pancreatic and colon surgery.

True aneurysm of pancreaticoduodenal arcade (PDA) is usually accompanied by stenosis or occlusion of celiac trunk (CeT). The up-to-date and first choice treatment modality of PDA aneurysm is the endovascular approach in nearly all cases except few selected ones necessitating surgery. The main approach in endovascular treatment is embolization of the aneurysm by preserving the parent artery. A case with concomitant CeT occlusion and PDA aneurysm was treated with coil embolization by preserving inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery with retrievable Solitaire® stent. In our knowledge, this is the first case with PDA aneurysm treated with this technique.

Since the development of the robotic platform, the number of robotic-assisted surgeries has significantly increased. Robotic surgery has gained growing acceptance in recent years, expanding to pancreatic resection. Here, we report a total robotic resection of the uncinate process of the pancreas performed in a patient with a cystic neuroendocrine tumor. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a robotic resection of the uncinate process of the pancreas. A 46-year-old man with no specific medical history was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor after undergoing routine imaging. Biopsy guided by echoendoscopy revealed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. We decided to perform a robotic resection of the uncinate process of the pancreas after obtaining informed consent for the procedure. According to preoperative echoendoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging, there was a safe margin between the neoplasm and the main pancreatic duct. The technique uses five ports. The duodenum is fully mobilized, and Kocher maneuver is carefully performed. The uncinate process of the pancreas is then identified. The resection of the uncinate process begins with the division of small arterial branches from the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery in its inferior portion, followed by control of venous tributaries to the superior mesenteric vein. Intraoperative localization of the ampulla of Vater is performed using indocyanine green enhanced fluorescence, thus defining the superior margin of the uncinate process. The pancreatic division is made about 5 mm below its upper margin for safety. Surgical specimen is then retrieved through the umbilical port inside a plastic bag. The raw pancreatic area is covered with hemostatic tissue and drained. The total operation time was 215 min. The docking time was 8 min and console time was 180 min. Blood loss was minimum, estimated at less than 50 mL. The postoperative period was uneventful, except for hyperamylasemia in the drain fluid. The patient was discharged on the 3rd postoperative day. The final pathological report confirmed well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Robotic resection of the uncinate process of the pancreas is safe and feasible, providing parenchymal conservation in a minimally invasive setting. Robotic resection should be considered for patients suffering from low-grade pancreatic neoplasms located in this part of the pancreas.

Background: While the safety of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has improved, the high level of difficulty associated with this operation means that the procedure carries a high mortality rate compared to other gastrointestinal operations. Various trials have been implemented in efforts to reduce the incidence of complications after PD. In particular, a large amount of intraoperative bleeding and the use of red blood cell transfusions are reportedly risk factors for postoperative complications after PD. Aim: In an attempt to reduce the amount of intraoperative bleeding during PD, consideration was given to the anatomical characteristics of the region of the pancreatic head, and the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA) were ligated in advance of separating the head from the portal vein. We herein report the use of ultrasonography during PD to facilitate the early identification and ligation of the IPDA. Case Presentation: A 72-year-old female was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy. We used ultrasonography during the operation to initially identify the IPDA and then ligate it in advance, after which the GDA was ligated before separating the pancreatic head from the superior mesenteric artery and portal vein. Identification of the IPDA was performed with the SMA as a guide using ultrasonography in Doppler mode. The amount of intraoperative bleeding was 235 ml. The patient left the hospital without any postoperative complications and has since demonstrated a good postoperative course, with no evidence of recurrent disease. Conclusions: Early ligation of the IPDA using intraoperative US is non-invasive and makes it simple to identify the IPDA. This method may be a useful technique for reducing intraoperative bleeding during the normal course of PD procedures.

During pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), early ligation of critical vessels such as the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA) has been reported to reduce blood loss. Color Doppler flow imaging has become the useful diagnostic methods for the delineation of the anatomy. In this study, we assessed the utility of the intraoperative Doppler ultrasonography (Dop-US) guided vessel detection and tracking technique (Dop-Navi) for identifying critical arteries in order to reduce operative bleeding. Ninety patients who received PD for periampullary or pancreatic disease were enrolled. After 14 patients were excluded because of combined resection of portal vein or other organs, the remaining were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: patients for whom Dop-Navi was used (n = 37) and those for whom Dop-Navi was not used (n = 39; controls). We compared the ability of Dop-Navi to identify critical vessels to that of preoperative multi-detector computed tomography (MD-CT), using MD-CT data, as well as compared the perioperative status and postoperative outcome between the 2 patient groups. Intraoperative Dop-US was significantly superior to MD-CT in terms of identifying number of vessels and the ability to discriminate the IPDA from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) based on blood flow velocity. The Dop-Navi patients had shorter operation times (531 min versus 577 min; no significance) and smaller bleeding volumes (1120 mL versus 1590 mL; P < 0.01) than the control patients without increasing postoperative complications. Intraoperative Dop-Navi method allows surgeons to clearly identify the IPDA during PD and to avoid injuries to major arteries.

Rationale: Abdominal apoplexy is a rare and fatal emergency event, which is coined as a comparison to the cerebrovascular apoplexy. The exact mechanism of abdominal apoplexy was unclear, but arteriosclerosis, hypertension, abdominal aneurysm, and other predisposing angiopathy were considered to be the main reasons of abdominal apoplexy. The development of the imaging technology gave us more opportunities to confirm the diagnosis of abdominal apoplexy. However, the diagnosis and identification of the bleeding sites still continued to be a challenge. Patient concerns: A 55-year-old man presented to the emergency department with chief complains of sudden severe abdominal pain. Diagnosis: The patient was diagnosed as abdominal apoplexy with 2 synchronous bleeding sites. Interventions: Angiography confirmed diagnosis of abdominal apoplexy and revealed 2 synchronous bleeding sites in gastroduodenal artery (GDA) and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA). Transcatheter embolization was performed immediately. Outcomes: The patient recovered and was discharged very soon. Two months later, the patient totally recovered and the hematoma disappeared in the CT imaging. Lessons: The reported case is rare, given the very low incidence of abdominal apoplexy with 2 synchronous bleeding sites in GDA and IPDA. The awareness of abdominal apoplexy was still the key point in the management of this disease. Quick diagnosis by the imaging and immediate embolization were very important for the treatment.

Mesopancreas dissection with central vascular ligation and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA)-first approach represent the cornerstone of current principles for radical resection for pancreatic head cancer. The surgeon dissecting around the SMV and SMA should be aware regarding the anatomical variants in this area. The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis are to detail the surgical anatomy of the superior mesenteric vessels and to propose a standardized terminology with impact in pancreatic cancer surgery. We conducted a systematic search to identify all published studies in PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases from their inception up to March 2017. Seventy-eight studies, involving a total of 18,369 specimens, were included. The prevalence of the mesenteric-celiac trunk, replaced/accessory right hepatic artery (RRHA), common hepatic artery, and SMV inversion was 2.8, 13.2, 2.6, and 4.1%, respectively. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery has its origin into the first jejunal artery, SMA, and RRHA, in 58.7, 35.8, and 1.2% of cases, respectively. The SMV lacks a common trunk in 7.5% of cases. The first jejunal vein has a trajectory posterior to the SMA in 71.8% of cases. The left gastric vein drains into the portal vein in 58%, in splenic vein (SV) in 35.6%, and into the SV-PV confluence in 5.8% of cases. Complex pancreaticoduodenal resections require detailed knowledge of the superior mesenteric artery and vein, which is significantly different from the one presented in the classical textbooks of surgery. We are proposing the concept of the first jejunopancreatic vein which impacts the current oncological principles of pancreatic head cancer resection.

The ideal surgery for pancreatic head cancer is isolated pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). “Isolated” means non-touch isolation techniques. Before manipulating pancreatic head cancer, all arteries supplying the pancreatic head region and all drainage veins for this region are ligated and divided, followed by pancreatectomy. The first step in isolated PD is a mesenteric approach. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery from the superior mesenteric artery is ligated and divided using the mesenteric approach. If the time to resect and reconstruct the portal venous system is expected to be prolonged, the congested portal venous blood is bypassed from a branch of the superior mesenteric vein to the femoral vein or umbilical vein using an antithrombogenic catheter. The concepts, intention, and precise surgical techniques of isolated PD are discussed in this paper.

Visceral arterial aneurysms are rare and only 2% involve the pancreaticoduodenal artery (PDA). The etiologies of PDA aneurysms include congenital or atherosclerosis, celiac axis stenosis, pancreatitis, mycotic, trauma, or fibromuscular hyperplasia. If PDA aneurysm ruptures, it will result in fatal hemorrhage with high mortality rates. Although abdominal computed tomographic scan is a valuable examination, the selective angiography is the criterion standard to diagnose PDA aneurysm. Operative treatment can be invasive for patients with ruptured PDA aneurysms. Endovascular therapy with embolization or sent in selected patients is an alternative mandatory method. Keywords: Aneurysm; Computed tomography; Embolization; Pancreaticoduodenal artery Case Presentation: A 54-year-old man, with a history of chronic pancreatitis associated with hypertriglyceridemia, presented to our emergency department with a 10-day history of abdominal pain. Computed tomographic scan of angiography (CTA) demonstrated a rupturedaccular aneurysm of inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (PDA) with peritoneal hemorrhage and digital subtraction angiography disclosed a ruptured saccular aneurysm of inferior PDA with extravasation (Figure 1). The transcatheter embolization with coil was carried out successfully. Discussion:Cases of visceral artery aneurysms are a rare clinical entity of vascular disease found incidentally in 0.1% to 2% of the general population and only 2% involve the PDA [1-3], The etiologies of PDA aneurysms include degeneration (atherosclerosis), hereditary diseases, inflammation (pancreatitis and cholecystitis), infection (abscess and mycotic), vasculitis, trauma (iatrogenic or penetrating injury), collagen vascular disease, segmental arterial mediolysis and malignancy [1,2,4]. The incidence of PDA aneurysm associated with degeneration and pancreatitis had reported to be 90% and 14%, respectively [5]. Many cases of ruptured PDA aneurysms were few than 10 mm in diameter. The size of PDA aneurysm could not be a predictor of its rupture and only male gender was associated with the risk of PDA aneurysm rupture [3-5]. If PDA aneurysm ruptured, it would result in fatal hemorrhage with high mortality rates and reach up to 100% if untreated.4 Although abdominal CTA was a valuable examination, the selective angiography was the criterion standard to diagnose PDA aneurysm[2,4]. If unstable hemodynamic, an elective open surgical treatment could be considered in patients with ruptured PDA aneurysms [5,6]. In the era of minimally invasive therapeutic approaches, endovascular therapy with embolization or sent in selected patients was an alternative mandatory method. The successful rate of endovascular therapy for ruptured PDA aneurysm with stable hemodynamics has reported to be 80% to 100%.

Although central vascular ligation (CVL) has been advocated and disseminated throughout the field of gastrointestinal cancer surgery, application of CVL during dissection around the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for periampullary malignancies has rarely been documented. An artery-first approach in which the mesopancreas is dissected from the SMA before division of other organs has recently been introduced in pancreatic cancer to judge resectability, clear the SMA margin from invasion, or reduce blood loss. The SMA hanging technique accompanied with a supracolic anterior artery-first approach described in this chapter facilitates central vascular ligation during PD. Briefly, SMA dissection was initiated from the right dorsal aspect using the supracolic anterior approach, followed by left-sided dissection. During the right-sided dissection process, the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery is ligated at the origin, and the jejunal vein running behind the SMA is separated from the SMA pedicle. To safely connect the dissection planes of both sides of the SMA, the SMA was taped under finger guidance immediately after right-sided dissection. The ligament of Treitz was detached from the SMA during left-sided dissection, facilitating adequate lymph node dissection while preserving the nerve plexus around the SMA. SMA hanging technique is a feasible and safe technique with acceptable short-term outcomes. We propose this procedure as one of the standardized technique for CVL around the SMA.

Curative surgical resection with negative surgical margins (R0) is essential to prolong the survival for pancreatic cancer patients. However, obtaining negative surgical margins is sometimes difficult especially for advanced pancreatic cancer with the involvement of the major arteries including the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), celiac artery, and common hepatic artery and/or portal vein/superior mesenteric vein (SMV). The connective tissue around the SMA is one of favorable cancer-positive margin spots during pancreaticoduodenectomy. The surrounding tissues around the SMA include the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, first jejunal artery, first jejunal vein, lymph nodes, and nerve plexus toward pancreatic head, and the region is usually called “mesopancreas” or “mesopancreatoduodenum.” Not enough dissection of this region may cause local recurrence and poor survival after surgery. “Artery-first approach” is the term arising from the concept that complete dissection of connective tissues of the SMA is performed for pancreatic head cancer at an early step in operation. The aims of “artery-first approach” are (1) early determination of the resectability, (2) increase of negative surgical margin rates, and (3) reduction of intraoperative blood loss. “Mesenteric approach” during pancreaticoduodenectomy is proposed by Nakao et al. in 1993, and it is one of the “artery-first approach” techniques. This approach starts from complete dissection around the SMA and SMV at the infracolic mesentery during pancreaticoduodenectomy that means no manipulation of the pancreatic head (Kocher’s maneuver) prior to ligating and dividing the arteries supplying the pancreatic head, which is called non-touch isolated method. Recent retrospective reports described the superiority of “artery-first approach” including “mesenteric approach” during pancreaticoduodenectomy; however, further prospective studies are necessary to confirm the superiority.

Pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery is an extremely rare complication of acute cholecystitis. We report a patient with a right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm associated with acute cholecystitis who was treated successfully by transarterial embolization. We also review the literature on right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to acute cholecystitis. A 50-year-old male visited Fujieda General Municipal Hospital with an episode of sudden headache. He was diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage and treated successfully by microcoil embolization on hospital day 4. On hospital day 54, he developed fever and right upper quadrant tenderness. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed acute cholecystitis, while color Doppler imaging showed a low-echogenic mass with a pulsatile wave pattern inside the gallbladder. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm in the gallbladder, and angiography disclosed a right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm. Selective transarterial embolization (TAE) was then performed using a steel coil. Abdominal pain and fever continued after TAE, with CE-CT showing re-bleeding from the previous pseudoaneurysm. Selective angiography identified extravasation at the same place as the previous pseudoaneurysm from the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery and the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery via the epicholedochal arterial plexus. TAE was performed resulting in successful occlusion of the pseudoaneurysm.

WOS: 000410706700051 PubMed: 28479459 Pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms (PDAAs) are rarely seen among the visceral artery aneurysms (

Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage (RPH) is a rare but serious complication of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and must be considered in patients presenting with RPH as their first presentation. Renal infarctions, liver infarctions, and ruptured microaneurysms are all complications of PAN. We present two cases presenting with abdominal and back pain. The first patient’s abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed fractured right kidney with retroperitoneal pericapsular hematoma and multiple hepatic and splenic infarcts. The digital subtraction angiography (DSA) demonstrated large areas of devascularization of the right kidney and right renal arterial wall irregularity with multifocal areas of stenosis, dilatations, and microaneurysms without active extravasation of IV contrast. She was treated conservatively and started on a pulsed dose of steroids and cyclophosphamide. The second patient’s abdominal CT angiography revealed multiple visceral aneurysms and focal areas of stenosis in branches of celiac axis and superior mesentery artery without active contrast extravasation. The DSA demonstrated multifocal areas of irregularity and narrowing in celiac and intrahepatic arteries as well as a 9 mm pseudoaneurysm in the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery which was embolized with metallic coils. PAN has a vague clinical presentation and is clinically occult. Patients may be diagnosed while getting investigated for some other causes of abdominal pain. The emergency physician and the radiologist should be aware of the findings and should be able to correlate with pathology to prevent life-threatening complications. Angiography plays a crucial role, not only in diagnosis but also in appropriate management.

Aneurysm of the visceral arteries is a rare condition and it represents around 1% of all arterial aneurisms. Aneurysm of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery represents around 2% of all visceral aneurysms. Aneurysm associated with occlusion of the coeliac trunk is very rare condition and there are only about 40 cases presented in the literature. In our study, we presented 56 year-old female admitted to hospital with obstructive jaundice. CT scan diagnosed tumor of the head of pancreas and CT angiography confirmed aneurysm of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery which was successfully operated at our clinic.

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic, necrotizing vasculitis of small- and medium-sized arteries typically with multiorgan involvement. Most cases of PAN are idiopathic, although hepatitis B or C virus infections and hairy cell leukemia are important in the pathogenesis of some cases. PAN is characterized as segmental transmural inflammation of muscular arteries. Diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion, a negative immunofluorescence test for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, and whenever possible, biopsy conformation. Angiographic images may reveal microaneurysms affecting the renal, hepatic, or mesenteric vasculature. Aneurysmal formation and rupture are important complications that can be fatal. Treatment may warrant immunosuppression with steroids and cyclophosphamide. If left untreated, PAN can be fatal. To our knowledge, we report the second documented case of PAN-induced ruptured inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm.

Objectives: A true pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm (PDAA) is a rare disease, and has some unique characteristics: a high rupture risk and a strong correlation with celiac trunk stenotic lesions (CTSL). We showed here that our treatment strategy for PDAA. Materials and Methods: Seven consecutive patients with PDAA at our institution from 1998 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Of the 7 patients, five were male and two were female, with a mean age of 55 ± 9.7 years. Three aneurysms were diagnosed incidentally, and the remaining four ruptured. The locations of the aneurysm were the anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (ASPDA) in 3 patients and the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA) in four. CTSL found 3 patients in the IPDA. Results: Of four ruptured patients, emergency catheter coil embolization was performed in three, and a simple ligation was performed in one. Three patients with non-ruptured aneurysms in the IPDA with a CTSL underwent direct aneurysm resection with arterial reconstruction. Six patients were successfully treated without complications or the appearance of new aneurysms during the follow-up period. Conclusion: The treatment strategy for PDAA should be selected by the site of the aneurysm, the patients’ condition, and the anatomical situation. A hybrid treatment could be considered a beneficial option for a CTSL.

Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA) aneurysms are uncommon, representing nearly 2% of all visceral aneurysms, and sporadically associated with celiac artery stenosis. Multiple IPDA aneurysms have been rarely reported. We report a case of a 53-year-old female patient with a history of prior pancreatitis, who presented with two IPDA aneurysms combined with median arcuate ligament-syndrome-like stenosis of the celiac trunk. The patient was treated successfully with coil embolization under local anesthesia. The procedure is described and illustrated in detail and the advantages and technical considerations of such an approach are also being discussed.