For the first time in Spain, the Bellvitge Hospital in Barcelona has achieved a groundbreaking surgical milestone by successfully removing two cases of pancreatic cancer using a double bypass technique previously considered “inoperable.” This significant feat was accomplished by the specialists from the General and Digestive Surgery Service, who enabled continuous blood circulation during the intricate surgical procedure.
Innovative Surgical Technique
The surgical team utilized an intraoperative venous bypass, also known as a shunt, to redirect blood flow between the vein collecting blood from the gut and the vena cava. This innovative method allowed for uninterrupted blood circulation, safeguarding the intestine and liver from potential damage during the operation.
Last year, under the expert guidance of Dr. Juli Busquets, the head of the Surgery Section at the Bellvitge Hospital and a researcher at IDIBELL, the team carried out Spain’s first resection of a pancreatic tumor using a similar shunt technique. However, the recent operations presented additional risks due to the complexity of the cases, necessitating a double bypass to address cancerous growth affecting the hepatic artery.
Complex Cases and Risks
The decision to employ a double shunt comes into play when a pancreatic tumor is attached to critical veins or arteries, rendering standard surgical methods ineffective without severe consequences. Traditionally, such locally advanced pancreatic cancers were deemed inoperable. This advancement now raises hopes for improved patient outcomes where previously none existed.
The Challenge of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most formidable cancer types, with predictions indicating that in 2026, approximately 10,405 people in Spain will receive this diagnosis. Alarmingly, only about 8% of patients are expected to survive five years post-diagnosis, making it the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country, surpassed only by lung and colorectal cancers.
Factors Behind Low Survival Rates
The dismal survival rates can be attributed to several key factors, primarily late diagnosis. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often vague and nonspecific, frequently leading to misdiagnosis. By the time patients are diagnosed, up to 50% may already have metastasized, and only 20% are found to have localized tumors amenable to surgical intervention.
Moreover, the aggressive nature of pancreatic cancer and its tumor microenvironment contribute to a high rate of relapse and resistance to various therapies. The incidence of pancreatic cancer has notably doubled in the past 25 years in Spain, now ranking as the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer. The increase is largely attributed to an aging population, but it has also become more prevalent among younger individuals.