title: Medial pancreatectomy: a multi-institutional retrospective study of 53 patients by the French Pancreas Club.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University Departments of Digestive Surgery of Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy; Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauvanet
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Partensky
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sastre
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gigot
authors.forename: Pierre-Louis
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Fagniez
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tuech
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Millat
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berdah
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dousset
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jaeck
authors.forename: Yves-Patrice
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Le Treut
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Letoublon
mesh_terms: 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