Portal vein reconstruction with interposition of cryopreserved aortic graft: A case report and literature review

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies with poor rates of survival especially in the event radical procedures are not feasible. However, improvements in surgical techniques have led to the successful association of vascular resection followed by reconstruction without a significant increase in the rates of postoperative complications. In the present article, we present the case of a 49-year-old patient diagnosed with pancreatic head cancer invading the portal vein. After discussing with the patient the risks and the benefits of the surgical procedure, the patient was submitted to pancreatoduodenectomy en bloc with portal vein resection while the continuity of the portal vein was reestablished by using a cadaveric graft originating from the abdominal aorta. The postoperative outcome was uneventful. In conclusion, in selected cases, arterial cadaveric grafts may be used in order to establish the continuity of the portal vein with good results. However, it should be emphasized that these are demanding procedures which should be carefully analyzed before deciding upon the opportunity for performing them.