Precision anatomy for safe approach to pancreatoduodenectomy for both open and minimally invasive procedure: A systematic review

Background Minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD) has recently gained popularity. Several international meetings focusing on the existing literature on MIPD were held; however, the precise surgical anatomy of the pancreas for the safe use of MIPD has not yet been fully discussed. The aim of this study was to carry out a systematic review of available articles and to show the importance of identifying the anatomical variation in pancreatoduodenectomy. Methods In this review, we described variations in surgical anatomy related to MIPD. A systematic search of PubMed (MEDLINE) was conducted, and the references were identified manually. Results The search strategy yielded 272 articles, with 77 retained for analysis. The important anatomy to be considered during MIPD includes the aberrant right hepatic artery, first jejunal vein, first jejunal artery, and dorsal pancreatic artery. Celiac artery stenosis and a circumportal pancreas are also important to recognize. Conclusions We conclude that only certain anatomical variations are associated directly with perioperative outcomes and that identification of these particular variations is important for safe performance of MIPD. Highlight Nakata and colleagues conducted a systematic review of articles regarding precise surgical anatomy and its importance for pancreatoduodenectomy. They concluded that only certain variations in surgical anatomy are associated directly with perioperative outcomes, and that identification of these particular variations is important for the safe performance of minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy.