Background: Pain from chronic pancreatitis can be debilitating and have far-reaching personal and societal consequences. These consequences can include patient debilitation, worsening of comorbid conditions, narcotic dependence, and implications for health care policy. A variety of surgical procedures have shown limited efficacy for relieving pain in this cohort of patients, and a highly select subset may benefit from a total pancreatectomy (TP). While a brittle form of diabetes can result from TP alone, when combined with islet cell autotransplantation this procedural complication can be minimized. Further, utilizing a minimally invasive approach may be associated with decreased periprocedural pain and length of hospital stay.
Methods: We describe our experience at a single high-volume center in the United States. We present our preferred preoperative evaluation, our updated operative techniques, and the standard perioperative care required following this complex laparoscopic procedure.
Results: Between 2013 and 2015, there were 20 patients who underwent laparoscopic total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (LTPIAT). Perioperative mortality was 0%.
Conclusions: At a high volume pancreatic center with experienced laparoscopic pancreatic surgeons, LTPIAT is feasible and safe for the management of chronic pancreatitis refractory to prior medical and surgical therapies.
Keywords: Laparoscopic pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation; chronic pancreatitis; diabetes after pancreatectomy; laparoscopic pancreatectomy; minimally invasive pancreatectomy.