Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for insulinoma with preservation of the spleen.
We report on a successful laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy due to insulinoma, preserving the spleen and the splenic vessels in a 29-year-old male patient who presented with repeated syncope due to hypoglycemia. The ultrasound exam did not show the pancreatic lesion; it was only the angiotomography of the pancreas that revealed a 3-cm mass located at the transition from the body to the tail of the pancreas. The laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy was performed using a harmonic scalpel (Ethicon EndoSurgery/UltraCision), without mechanical suturing. There were no intra- or postoperative complications or hypoglycemias during the 6 months of follow-up. When it is performed by experienced laparoscopic surgeons, this is a technically feasible procedure, safe for the treatment of benign lesions of the pancreas body and tail.
Giovanardi
Rafael Omar
RO
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Fundação Universidade de Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil. rafaelgiovanardi@terra.com.br
Giovanardi
Henrique João
HJ
Fontana
César Augusto
CA
Kuhn
Fernando
F
Kalil
Antonio Nocchi
AN
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007340:Insulinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D013157:Splenic Artery; D013162:Splenic Vein