The falciform ligament as a graft for portal–superior mesenteric vein reconstruction in pancreatectomy

Abstract Background Tumor invasion or adherence to the portal vein–superior mesenteric vein (PV/SMV) may be encountered during pancreatic surgery. In such cases, venous resection and reconstruction might be required for complete resection of the tumor. We report an innovative technique in which the graft for PV/SMV reconstruction was made with the falciform ligament. Methods Between May 2011 and July 2016, PV/SMV reconstruction with a falciform ligament graft was performed in 10 cases during pancreatectomy. Among these cases, including six cases with a patch graft and four cases with a conduit graft. Retrospective reviews of medical records and radiologic studies were performed. Results Ten patients with pancreatobiliary cancer underwent en bloc tumor resection with concurrent PV/SMV resection and reconstruction with a falciform ligament graft. There were six males and four females, and the mean age was 65.3 ± 9.4 (48-80) y. Using Doppler ultrasound examination, all 10 grafts were shown to be patent at postoperative 2 wk. However, occlusion was found in one case with conduit graft and stenosis in the other three cases with conduit graft using enhanced computed tomography at postoperative 2 mo. Complete patency was shown in three of six cases with patch graft and stenosis in the other three cases at 2 mo after the operation. Although occlusion or stenosis of the grafts was observed, no severe adverse events occurred, and normal liver function was discovered in all 10 cases at postoperative 2 mo. Conclusions Falciform ligament grafts might be considered for reconstruction of PV/SMV in the absence of appropriate vascular grafts.