Laparoscopic partial pancreatectomy of the left limb using a harmonic scalpel in nine cats

• Published in: Veterinary surgery Vol. 53; no. 2; pp. 350 - 356
• Main Authors: Case, J. Brad, Adin, Christopher, Chiquitha, Crews, Gilor, Chen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.02.2024; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Cat Diseases - surgery; Cats; Complications; Glycated Hemoglobin; Haemoglobin; Haemorrhage; Hemoglobin; Hemorrhage; Humans; Immunoreactivity; Laparoscopy; Laparoscopy - methods; Laparoscopy - veterinary; Length-weight relationships; Pancreas; Pancreatectomy - methods; Pancreatectomy - veterinary; Pancreatic Neoplasms - surgery; Pancreatic Neoplasms - veterinary; Pancreatitis; Peritonitis; Portal vein; Postoperative; Prospective Studies; Spleen; Surgery; Surgical operations; Treatment Outcome; Trypsin; Veins
• ISSN: 0161-3499; 1532-950X
• DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14052

Objective To describe a laparoscopic technique and outcome for partial pancreatectomy in cats. Study design Prospective cohort study. Animals Nine cats. Methods Laparoscopic pancreatectomy was performed using a single incision laparoscopic surgery port and an additional 5.5 mm port. The left pancreatic limb was dissected, sealed and divided at the level of the splenic vein insertion to the portal vein using a harmonic device. Surgical time and complications were recorded. The weight and length of the resected pancreatic limb was recorded. Pre‐ and postoperative trypsin‐like immunoreactivity (TLI), pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI), and hemoglobin A1C were documented. Results Laparoscopic partial pancreatectomy was performed successfully in all cats. One grade 1 intraoperative complication occurred (1/9; 11%) resulting in minor hemorrhage from a caudal splenic vein branch. A grade 2 postoperative complication occurred within 3 days after surgery in one cat (1/9; 11%), involving localized, sterile peritonitis in the region of the pancreatic angle. Signs resolved with conservative management. No cats exhibited signs of pancreatitis postoperatively. Long‐term, mean TLI decreased by 37% ± 38% (p = .03) following partial pancreatectomy, while PLI and A1C were unchanged. All cats were alive and clinically well at last follow‐up 250 to 446 days following surgery. Conclusions Laparoscopic partial pancreatectomy using a harmonic device is effective in cats, and offers a minimally‐invasive alternative to open surgical pancreatectomy techniques. Laparoscopic pancreatectomy of the left limb results in adequate exocrine and endocrine function in the long‐term.