Medial pancreatectomy: a multi-institutional retrospective study of 53 patients by the French Pancreas Club.
BACKGROUND
The results of medial pancreatectomy have been previously reported anecdotally. The purpose of the study was to provide short- and long-term results of MP in a large multicenter collective series.


METHODS
From 1990 to 1998, 53 patients (mean age +/- SD = 49 +/- 15 years) underwent medial pancreatectomy for primary cystic neoplasms of pancreas (n = 19), endocrine neoplasms (n = 17), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) (n = 6), fibrotic stenosis of the Wirsung's duct (n = 4), or other benign (n = 4) or malignant (n = 3) diseases. The proximal (right) pancreatic remnant was sutured (n = 53), and the distal (left) remnant was either anastomosed to a jejunal loop (n = 26), to the stomach (n = 25), or oversewn (n = 2). Medial pancreatectomy was indicated in 3 patients (6%) because of failed enucleation, in 3 (6%) to prevent worsening of preexisting diabetes, or to prevent de novo diabetes in a patient with chronic pancreatitis, and deliberately in the 47 others.


RESULTS
The length of the resected pancreas was 5.0+/- 2.2 cm (range, 2-15). One patient (2%) died from a pancreatic fistula and portal thrombosis. Three patients were reoperated on because of complications related to the left pancreas, which was partially or totally resected. Pancreatic fistula developed in 16 patients (30%). Mean delay for the return of oral feeding was related to the presence of a pancreatic fistula. At follow-up (median = 26 months, range, 12-131), 1 pancreatic recurrence and 1 de novo diabetes occurred in patients without IPMN. In patients with IPMN, the rates of pancreatic recurrence and diabetes were 40% (2/5), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Medial pancreatectomy effectively preserves long-term endocrine function and is associated with a low risk of local recurrence, except in patients with IPMN. However, there is a high risk (30%) of PF after medial pancreatectomy.
Sauvanet
Alain
A
University Departments of Digestive Surgery of Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy; Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France.
Partensky
Christian
C
Sastre
Bernard
B
Gigot
Jean-François
JF
Fagniez
Pierre-Louis
PL
Tuech
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Millat
Bertrand
B
Berdah
Stéphane
S
Dousset
Bertrand
B
Jaeck
Daniel
D
Le Treut
Yves-Patrice
YP
Letoublon
Christian
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome