Laparoscopic Partial Sleeve Duodenectomy for the Infra-Ampullary Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors of the Duodenum

Background: Although organ-preserving operations are regarded as effective strategies for duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), laparoscopic partial sleeve duodenectomy (lap PSD) has not been fully evaluated. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness and technical feasibility of lap PSD. Study design: Between January 2011 and March 2016, we reviewed 13 patients who underwent laparoscopic approach among 22 patients who underwent PSD. PSD for the infra-ampullary lesions was defined as infra-ampullary duodenal resection including the first portion of the jejunum. After resection, all patients underwent reconstruction via side-to-side duodenojejunostomy. Results: The total mean operation time was 273 min (range 160–346 min), and estimated mean blood loss was 80 ml (range scanty-200 ml). One patient was converted to open laparotomy because of mesocolonic tumor involvement. The median postoperative hospital stay was 10.5 days (range 4–36 days). There were no postoperative mortalities. Postoperative complications included 2 instances of delayed gastric emptying (DGE), 1 duodenojejunostomy stricture, and 2 intestinal obstructions. No patient was treated with adjuvant therapy. One patient experienced hepatic metastasis 28 months after surgery during a mean follow-up period of 48.6 months. Conclusion: Lap PSD might be an oncologically effective strategy for duodenal GIST, and the laparoscopic approach is a technically feasible and appealing surgical modality in terms of safety and perioperative results. However, DGE and anastomosis strictures are concerns for postoperative complications, which need to be further investigated.