Is laparoscopic left pancreatic resection justified?
BACKGROUND
We reviewed our experience of laparoscopic left pancreatectomy to establish the feasibility of this approach and the characteristics of the operating procedure.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with a mean age of 60 years were deemed for a left pancreatectomy. Preoperative diagnoses were: nine mucinous cystadenoma and one insulinoma, intraductal mucinous ectasia, chronic pancreatitis with ductal stenosis, and distal pancreatic tumor.


RESULTS
Operative mortality was nil. Two patients required conversion for bleeding from splenic vein injuries leading to a splenectomy in one case. The spleen was preserved in 10 cases. Postoperative course was uneventful in nine cases. Four patients experienced postoperative complications: one pancreatic fistula, two liquid cysts on the pancreatic margin, and one reoperation for bleeding from a trocar port. Length of stay ranged from 5 to 22 days.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results confirm that in selected cases laparoscopic resection of the left pancreas is feasible and safe.
Fabre
J M
JM
Department of Surgery, Saint Eloi Hospital, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. jm-fabre@chu-montpellier.fr
Dulucq
J L
JL
Vacher
C
C
Lemoine
M C
MC
Wintringer
P
P
Nocca
D
D
Burgel
J S
JS
Domergue
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D018291:Cystadenoma, Mucinous / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007340:Insulinoma / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000601:surgery; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013154:Spleen / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods