Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: oncologic outcomes and long-term survival

Objective The study aimed to compare the oncologic outcomes and long-term survival of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) and open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) for patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Background Substantial evidence demonstrated that LPD is technically safe and feasible with perioperative outcomes equivalent to that of OPD. However, for patients with malignancy, especially PDAC, the oncologic outcomes and long-term survival of patients who underwent LPD remains to be elucidated. Methods Studies on LPD for the treatment of PDAC published before December 25, 2018 were searched online. The oncologic outcomes (e.g., numbers of lymph nodes retrieved, negative margin (R0) resection), and long-term survival (postoperative survival from 1 to 5 year) of LPD were compared to that of ODP. Results After screening 1507 studies, six comparative cohort studies, which reported the oncologic outcomes and long-term survival of patients with PDAC were included. No significant difference was found between LPD and OPD regarding lymph nodes harvested (OR 1.96, 95% CI - 1.17 to 5.09, p = 0.22), R0 rate (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.06, p = 0.05), number of positive lymph nodes (OR - 0.44, 95% CI - 1.06 to 0.17, p = 0.16), rate of adjuvant treatment (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.59, p = 0.86) and time to adjuvant treatment (OR - 6.21, 95% CI - 16.00 to 3.59, p = 0.21). LPD showed similar 1-year (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.65, p = 0.28), and 2-year survival (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.66, p = 0.13) to that of OPD. The 3-year (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.02, p = 0.007), 4-year (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.93, p = 0.04), and 5-year survival (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.35 to 3.31, p = 0.001) were significantly longer in LPD group. Conclusion For the treatment of PDAC, the oncologic outcomes of LPD were equivalent to that of OPD; LPD seemed promising regarding the postoperative long-term survival.