title: Central pancreatectomy for benign pancreatic lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditional resections for pancreatic malignancies include distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and pancrearicoduodenectomy (PD). Alternative resections for benign pancreatic disease are used to minimize the resection of normal pancreatic and splenic parenchyma. This study describes the use of central pancreatectomy (CP) in 10 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing CP between May 1999 and February 2004 was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients (eight female, two male) underwent CP for benign pancreatic disease. Median age was 59 years (range 21-75). Eight patients presented with abdominal pain, two of whom also had weight loss. One patient each presented with hypoglycemia and as an incidental finding. Median operative time was 255 min (range 160-380 min). Proximal pancreatic remnant was stapled in five and oversewn in five. Distal pancreatic remnant was managed with pancreaticojejunostomy in six patients and pancreatjcogastrostomy in four patients. There were no 30-day mortalities. Pancreatic fistula developed in four patients (40%), and all resolved without operative intervention. All patients are alive with no recurrence and no new endocrine or exocrine dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CP has similar morbidity and mortality rates to traditional pancreatic resections and may offer a lower incidence of diabetes and exocrine insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Margo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shoup
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abodeely
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hodul
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Brems
authors.forename: Gerard V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Aranha