title: Middle-preserving pancreatectomy for multicentric body-sparing lesions of the pancreas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The appropriate surgical approach of a pancreatic multifocal disease that skips the body of the gland remains unknown. We sought to analyze a parenchyma-sparing surgical technique consisting of a middle-preserving pancreatectomy (MPP) evaluating feasibility, safety, and oncological and functional outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1999 and 2007, 5 patients affected by pancreatic benign or slow malignant multicentric body-sparing disease underwent MPP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 3 men and 2 women with a median age of 35 years (range 28-70 years). The median operative time was 365 minutes (range 330-440 minutes). Postoperative mortality was nil and postoperative morbidity was 1 (20%). At a median follow-up of 20 months (range 14-118 months) all of the patients are alive and disease-free. Overall, 2 patients developed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, as well as exocrine insufficiency. One patient developed only exocrine insufficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPP is a feasible procedure and might reduce the risk of both endocrine and exocrine insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Partelli
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boninsegna
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salvia
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pederzoli
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falconi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology; D010188:Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D015996:Survival Rate