No-touch isolation technique in emergency pancreaticoduodenectomy for neoplastic hemorrhage: Two case reports and review of literature

Abstract

BACKGROUND Emergency pancreaticoduodenectomy (EPD) is a rare event for complex periampullary etiology. Increased intraoperative blood loss is correlated with poor postoperative outcomes. CASE SUMMARY Two patients underwent EPD using a no-touch isolation technique, in which all arteries supplying the pancreatic head region were ligated and divided before manipulation of the pancreatic head and duodenum. The operative times were 220 and 239 min, and the blood loss was 70 and 270 g, respectively. The patients were discharged on the 14th and 10th postoperative day, respectively. Thirty-two patients underwent EPD for the treatment of neoplastic bleeding. The mean operative time was 361.6 min, and the mean blood loss was 747.3 g. The complication rate was 37.5%. The in-hospital mortality rate was 9.38%. CONCLUSION The no-touch isolation technique is feasible, safe, and effective for reducing intraoperative blood loss in EPD.