Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy

Purpose: For a long time, laparoscopic pancreatic surgery was simply a matter of extended diagnostics without a simultaneous resection. Methods: The increase of experience in complex laparoscopic procedures combined with a substantial improvement in technical equipment has led to the possibility of performing pancreatic resections laparoscopically. Results: In contrast to the experimental laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy has proved its safety and efficacy. Conclusion: In order to avoid splenectomy-associated complications, such as the OPSI-syndrome or formation of abscesses in the splenic area, the spleen-preserving technique is more favorable. Due to ischemia caused by the resection of the splenic vessels, as well as portal hypertension in the long-term follow-up, those vessels should remain untouched. The following article and video describe our approach for laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with sparing of the splenic vessels.