New approaches to the minimally invasive treatment of pancreatic cancer

Advances in minimally invasive surgery have revolutionized the field of surgery. Despite the great strides in equipment and experience, operative conduct remains confined by the limits of exposure. Retroperitoneal fat can be abundant and can contribute greatly to difficulty in exposure. Visceral organs ventral to the retroperitoneum preclude direct access and require optimal patient positioning to operate. Additionally, the major vascular pedicles all originate in the retroperitoneum off of the abdominal aorta or enter the inferior vena cava. The pancreas, in particular, is surrounded by the portal vein, celiac axis, superior mesenteric vein and artery, and splenic vein and artery. If injured during surgery, these vessels can present a life-threatening emergency. The issues related to the vasculature, coupled with the difficulty in resecting portions of the pancreas and the relative paucity of pancreatic procedures, have greatly concentrated these cases at tertiary care centers staffed by experienced laparoscopists. However, as surgical technology improves and fellowships train more surgeons with advanced laparoscopic skills, minimally invasive pancreatic surgery may diffuse with more community-based health care networks.