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ObjectiveThe diagnostic performance of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for stratification of head of pancreas and periampullary tumours into resectable, borderline resectable and locally advanced tumours is unclear as is the effect of endobiliary stents. The primary aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic performance of EUS for resectability according to stent status.DesignA retrospective study was performed. All patients presenting with a solid head of pancreas mass who underwent EUS and surgery with curative intent during an 8-year period were included. Factors with possible impact on diagnostic performance of EUS were analysed using logistic regression.ResultsNinety patients met inclusion criteria and formed the study group. A total of 49 (54%) patients had an indwelling biliary stent at the time of EUS, of which 36 were plastic and 13 were self-expanding metal stents (SEMS). Twenty patients underwent venous resection and reconstruction (VRR). Staging was successfully performed in 100% unstented cases, 97% plastic stent and 54% SEMS, pConclusionsEUS has modest diagnostic performance for stratification of staging. Staging was less likely to be completed when a SEMS was in situ. Staging EUS should ideally be performed before endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and biliary drainage.

Background: The optimal nutritional therapy in the field of pancreatic surgery is still debated. Methods: An international panel of recognized pancreatic surgeons and pancreatologists decided that the topic of nutritional support was of importance in pancreatic surgery. Thus, they reviewed the best contemporary literature and worked to develop a position paper to provide evidence supporting the integration of appropriate nutritional support into the overall management of patients undergoing pancreatic resection. Strength of recommendation and quality of evidence were based on the approach of the grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation Working Group. Results: The measurement of nutritional status should be part of routine preoperative assessment because malnutrition is a recognized risk factor for surgery-related complications. In addition to patient's weight loss and body mass index, measurement of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity should be considered in the preoperative evaluation because they are strong predictors of poor short-term and long-term outcomes. The available data do not show any definitive nutritional advantages for one specific type of gastrointestinal reconstruction technique after pancreatoduodenectomy over the others. Postoperative early resumption of oral intake is safe and should be encouraged within enhanced recovery protocols, but in the case of severe postoperative complications or poor tolerance of oral food after the operation, supplementary artificial nutrition should be started at once. At present, there is not enough evidence to show the benefit of avoiding oral intake in clinically stable patients who are complicated by a clinically irrelevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (a so-called biochemical leak), while special caution should be given to feeding patients with clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula orally. When an artificial nutritional support is needed, enteral nutrition is preferred whenever possible over parenteral nutrition. After the operation, regardless of the type of pancreatic resection or technique of reconstruction, patients should be monitored carefully to assess for the presence of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Although fecal elastase-1 is the most readily available clinical test for detection of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, its sensitivity and specificity are low. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy should be initiated routinely after pancreatoduodenectomy and in patients with locally advanced disease and continued for at least 6 months after surgery, because untreated pancreatic exocrine insufficiency may result in severe nutritional derangement. Conclusion: The importance of this position paper is the consensus reached on the topic. Concentrating on nutritional support and therapy is of utmost value in pancreatic surgery for both short- and long-term outcomes.

CONTEXT: Patients with periampullary adenocarcinomas undergo the same resectional surgery as that of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Although adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to have a survival benefit for pancreatic cancer, there have been no randomized trials for periampullary adenocarcinomas. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether adjuvant chemotherapy (fluorouracil or gemcitabine) provides improved overall survival following resection. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: The European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer (ESPAC)-3 periampullary trial, an open-label, phase 3, randomized controlled trial (July 2000-May 2008) in 100 centers in Europe, Australia, Japan, and Canada. Of the 428 patients included in the primary analysis, 297 had ampullary, 96 had bile duct, and 35 had other cancers. INTERVENTIONS: One hundred forty-four patients were assigned to the observation group, 143 patients to receive 20 mg/m2 of folinic acid via intravenous bolus injection followed by 425 mg/m2 of fluorouracil via intravenous bolus injection administered 1 to 5 days every 28 days, and 141 patients to receive 1000 mg/m2 of intravenous infusion of gemcitabine once a week for 3 of every 4 weeks for 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was overall survival with chemotherapy vs no chemotherapy; secondary measures were chemotherapy type, toxic effects, progression-free survival, and quality of life. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients (61%) in the observation group, 83 (58%) in the fluorouracil plus folinic acid group, and 73 (52%) in the gemcitabine group died. In the observation group, the median survival was 35.2 months (95%% CI, 27.2-43.0 months) and was 43.1 (95%, CI, 34.0-56.0) in the 2 chemotherapy groups (hazard ratio, 0.86; (95% CI, 0.66-1.11; χ2 = 1.33; P = .25). After adjusting for independent prognostic variables of age, bile duct cancer, poor tumor differentiation, and positive lymph nodes and after conducting multiple regression analysis, the hazard ratio for chemotherapy compared with observation was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.57-0.98; Wald χ2 = 4.53, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with resected periampullary adenocarcinoma, adjuvant chemotherapy, compared with observation, was not associated with a significant survival benefit in the primary analysis; however, multivariable analysis adjusting for prognostic variables demonstrated a statistically significant survival benefit associated with adjuvant chemotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00058201.

Pancreaticobronchial fistula is a rare complication of severe pancreatitis. Various diagnostic methods have been described previously.The presentation, diagnostic methods, management and 5-year follow-up of a 40-year-old woman with severe gallstone induced pancreatitis complicated by a pancreaticobronchial fistula were reviewed. Diagnosis was made on the endotracheal intubation when amylase rich-fluid was drained via the tube and confirmed by CT scanning. Successful management was achieved by an open pancreatic necrosectomy, during which air bubbles were seen emerging from the pancreatic collection which supported the diagnosis of the fistula. Five-year follow-up did not reveal any complications.Pancreaticobronchial fistulas have the potential to cause severe respiratory complications and mortality. Awareness of this condition is important in the treatment of complicated cases of pancreatitis.

Individuals with suspected malignant biliary obstruction commonly undergo ERCP for drainage and tissue sampling via biliary brushings. EUS with EUS-FNA facilitates staging and potentially more accurate tissue sampling.The aim is to compare the diagnostic performance of EUS-FNA and ERCP with biliary brushings (ERCP-BB) in the diagnosis of pancreatobiliary carcinoma and the utility of combining the two procedures under conscious sedation.Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database.Thirty-seven patients with suspected malignant obstructive jaundice underwent 39 paired procedures, either combined (n=22) or within a few days (n=17).Using strict cytological criteria the sensitivity of EUS-FNA in the diagnosis of malignancy was 52.9% (95% CI: 35.1-70.2%) versus 29.4% (95% CI: 15.1-47.5%) for ERCP-BB. Combining the two tests improved sensitivity to 64.7% (95% CI: 46.5-80.3%) which was significantly better than ERCP-BB alone (P=0.001) but not EUS-FNA alone (P=0.125). When both procedures were performed under the same conscious sedation, there was a significant difference (P=0.031) between the sensitivity of EUS-FNA (52.6%; 95% CI: 28.9-75.6%) and that of ERCP-BB (21.1%; 95% CI: 6.1-45.6%). When both procedures were performed together the mean±SD in-room time was 79±14 min (range: 45-105 min). Two of the patients (9.1%) had a complication.In patients undergoing EUS-FNA and ERCP-BB under the same sedation, EUS-FNA was significantly more sensitive in diagnosing malignancy. Combining the results of both tests improved diagnostic accuracy. Combining therapeutic ERCP and EUS-FNA under the same conscious sedation is feasible, with a complication rate similar to that of ERCP alone.

Despite the fact that 80-85% of the patients with pancreatic cancer present with nonresectable disease and are therefore a large patient cohort (approximately 5,500 patients with pancreatic cancer per annum in the UK alone), the available literature is sparse and there have been few good-quality studies in this patient group. The specific topics of pain relief and nutritional support in these patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer have received very little interest in the literature over many years. We present our review of the relevant literature and discussions regarding future investigations of these two important topics, as discussed at the meeting at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, entitled “Pancreatic Diseases, the Challenges,” in March 2007.

Biliary stricture due to severe pancreatic disorders such as inflammatory masses or chronic pseudocysts is a recognized complication of chronic pancreatitis (CP). The anatomical relationship of the distal common bile duct with the head of the pancreas is the main factor for its involvement in CP.

Acute pancreatitis, which can develop after any whole-organ transplant, is often associated with immunosuppression. Pancreatitis that complicates a liver transplant can be a significant problem that results in a high mortality rate.We describe the successful use of minimally invasive techniques to treat severe acute pancreatitis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in which major laparotomy was precluded by the use of percutaneous necrosectomy to manage necrotizing pancreatitis in a liver transplant recipient. We also briefly review the published literature on severe acute pancreatitis in liver transplant recipients.Our patient, who had a Model for End- Stage Liver Disease score of 39 when transplanted and an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 19 when infected necrosis in his pancreas was diagnosed, recovered completely after 92 days of hospitalization. He underwent 2 percutaneous drainage procedures and 3 percutaneous necrosectomies to treat his pancreatic complication. A review of the literature revealed that severe acute pancreatitis significantly increases morbidity and mortality in liver transplant recipients. Unlike necrotizing pancreatitis, which develops outside the context of liver transplant where there is a distinct shift towards minimally invasive procedures, infected necrosis associated with fulminant liver failure or a liver transplant is usually treated with open necrosectomy.Severe acute pancreatitis in liver transplant recipients should be managed exactly as it is in patients who have not received a liver transplant. Anatomically guided minimally invasive necrosectomy appears to be beneficial, especially when patients are critically unwell, as they are following a liver transplant.

Hereditary pancreatitis is an autosomal dominant condition, which results in recurrent attacks of acute pancreatitis, progressing to chronic pancreatitis often at a young age. The majority of patients with hereditary pancreatitis express one of two mutations (R122H or N29I) in the cationic trypsinogen gene (PRSS1 gene). It has been hypothesised that one of these mutations, the R122H mutation causes pancreatitis by altering a trypsin recognition site so preventing deactivation of trypsin within the pancreas and prolonging its action, resulting in autodigestion. Families with these two mutations have been identified in many countries and there are also other rarer mutations, which have also been linked to hereditary pancreatitis. Patients with hereditary pancreatitis present in the same way as those with sporadic pancreatitis but at an earlier age. It is common for patients to remain undiagnosed for many years, particularly if they present with non-specific symptoms. Hereditary pancreatitis should always be considered in patients who present with recurrent pancreatitis with a family history of pancreatic disease. If patients with the 2 common mutations are compared, those with the R122H mutation are more likely to present at a younger age and are more likely to require surgical intervention than those with N29I. Hereditary pancreatitis carries a 40 % lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer with those patients aged between 50 to 70 being most at risk in whom screening tests may become important.

783 Background: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is increasingly utilized in the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of open vs. colonic resection of the primary tumour on outcomes following LLR. Methods: A prospectively maintained database was searched to identify all patients undergoing laparoscopic resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) between 1/1/2007 and 31/12/2013. Demographic, histological, surgical outcome and survival data were collated retrospectively. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Results: A total of 71 patients (median age 66 yr; 64% male) underwent resection in this study of whom 35 had a laparoscopic colectomy (LC). The presence of a previous open colectomy (OC) surgical morbidity (17% vs. 11%; p=0.53); conversion to open surgery (22% both groups; p=0.95); duration of surgery (240 min vs. 285 min; p=0.28); or length of hospital stay (5 vs. 6 days; p=0.98). Overall survival in this series was 47 months with no difference between groups (p=0.58). Patients who underwent OC appeared to have a poorer recurrence free survival (8 vs. 21 months; p=0.03) although on multivariate analysis the only factor predictive of early recurrence was a node positive primary (OR 3.8; p=0.05). Conclusions: In patients being considered for LLR for metastasic colorectal cancer the surgical approach to colectomy has no bearing on either short term surgical outcomes or longer term disease specific survival.