Bellvitge removes inoperable pancreatic cancer with a pioneering technique

BarcelonaA new medical breakthrough opens the door to the treatment of pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive cancers in existence. A team from Bellvitge Hospital has used, for the first time in Spain, a surgical technique that allows the removal of this type of tumor, which until now was considered inoperable.

The operation was performed on March 5, and the patient, a 45-year-old man, is recovering favorably, as explained today by the medical center in a statement. The patient had a cancer that doctors until now classified as quite advanced because it involved several venous branches, which further complicates removal. In fact, until now these types of cancer were considered inoperable. However, the man had responded well to chemotherapy and doctors considered him a good candidate for this new type of operation.

The technique consists of making a kind of bypass venous during the operation to ensure that blood flow is maintained—both in the intestines and the liver—while the tumor is removed, thus preventing organ damage. The operation was carried out with Dr. Elena Rangelova of Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, a leading expert in this procedure.

The patient had the bypass in operation for 94 minutes. The surgery was uneventful and allowed for the operation without the need for a blood transfusion. Once the tumor was removed, normal blood flow resumed. The patient was able to go home seven days after the procedure, without any postoperative complications. Tumor scan confirmed complete removal.

3D rendering of the tumor

Another key to the success of this operation was the reproduction of the tumor in a three-dimensional format. This allowed the operating team to plan the surgical process using a highly accurate 3D model of the tumor they were to remove. The reproduction was possible thanks to the previously obtained two-dimensional images.

Having access to the exact position and shape of the tumor and the affected organs and vascular structures was a major step for the team in being able to study the different ways to attack and remove this specific cancer, decide and plan surgical strategies, and determine how other structures would be affected.