Objective: To investigate the effects of secondary left-sided portal hypertension (LSPH) on the radical operation rate of patients with pancreatic cancer and systemically evaluate the prognosis of patients with LSPH secondary to pancreatic cancer after radical surgery.
Materials and methods: The data of patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent laparotomy over a 15-year period in Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA Air Force General Hospital from Jan. 1, 1997, to Jun. 30, 2012 was retrospectively reviewed.
Results: A total of 362 patients with pancreatic cancer after laparotomy were selected, including 73 with LSPH and 289 without LSPH. Thirty-five patients with LSPH (47.9%) and 147 without non-LSPH (50.9%) respectively underwent radical operations. No significant difference was found between these two groups regarding the total resection rate and stratified radical resection rate according to different pathological types and cancer locations. The mean and median survival time of patients after radical operation in LSPH group were 13.9 ± 1.3 months and 14.8 months, respectively, while those in non-LSPH group were 22.6 ± 1.4 months and 18.4 months, respectively(P<0.05).
Conclusions: Radical operations for pancreatic cancer and secondary LSPH are safe and effective. Because high-grade malignancy and poor prognosis are closely associated, the decision for radical surgery should be made more meticulously for the patients with pancreatic cancer.