Distal Pancreatectomy with Celiac Axis Resection for Pancreatic Cancer Following Coil Embolization of the Common Hepatic Artery

Context It has been reported that some locally advanced pancreatic body and tail cancers can be radically resected by distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection. However, the removal of the celiac axis can result in fatal complications due to hepatic ischemia. Case report A Seventy-two-year-old man with pancreatic body cancer was selected to undergo distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection. We performed coil embolization of the common hepatic artery to obtain adequate hepatic inflow from the gastroduodenal artery prior to distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection. R0 resection was achieved by distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection. No complications related to hepatic arterial deficiency occurred during the postoperative course, and no evidence of recurrence has been seen for 28 months. Conclusion Preoperative embolization of the common hepatic artery is a useful technique for avoiding hepatic ischemia when distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection is performed in patients with pancreatic body and tail carcinoma. This procedure has the potential to improve the resectability of pancreatic cancer. Received July 5th, 2016 Accepted July 22nd, 2016