Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: up-to-date and literature review.
Pancreatic surgery represents one of the most challenging areas in digestive surgery. In recent years, an increasing number of laparoscopic pancreatic procedures have been performed and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) has gained world-wide acceptance because it does not require anastomosis or other reconstruction. To date, English literature reports more than 300 papers focusing on LDP, but only 6% included more than 30 patients. Literature review confirms that LDP is a feasible and safe procedure in patients with benign or low grade malignancies. Decreased blood loss and morbidity, early recovery and shorter hospital stay may be the main advantages. Several concerns still exist for laparoscopic pancreatic adenocarcinoma excision. The individual surgeon determines the technical conduction of LDP, with or without spleen preservation; currently robotic pancreatic surgery has gained diffusion. Additional researches are necessary to determine the best technique to improve the procedure results.
Minimally Invasive Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy.
Maurizio
M
Iacobone
Marilisa
M
Citton
Donato
D
Nitti
D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome