J Korean Soc Endosc Laparosc Surg.  2011 Dec;14(2):42-50.

Comparison of Laparoscopic and Open Distal Pancreatectomy with Focus on the Development of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula

• Park H
• Nah YW
• Nam CW
• Bang SJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
To assess the technical feasibility of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) focusing on the development of postoperative complications including pancreatic fistula (POPF).
METHODS
From March 2001 to April 2010, 57 patients underwent a distal pancreatectomy. The patients were divided into two groups, LDP group (L group, n=15) and open distal pancreatectomy group (O group, n=42). The clinicopathological characteristics, surgical variables and postoperative outcomes of these 2 groups were compared retrospectively.
RESULTS
Patients with a malignancy constituted 7% of the L group and 31% of the O group (p=0.084). The tumor size was significantly larger in the O group (2.6 vs. 5.3 cm). The body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in the L group (24.9 vs. 22.9 kg/m2). One case of a pancreas pseudocyst in the L group was converted to open surgery due to intraoperative bleeding. The L group showed significantly less intraoperative bleeding, earlier start of solid meals and shorter hospital stay. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications and POPF between the 2 groups. POPF of ISGPF grade B developed in 0 and 2 patients in the L group and O group, respectively. One intestinal obstruction and 1 fluid collection that required intervention was encountered in the O group. One patient with adenocarcinoma who underwent LDP was alive 25 months after surgery without recurrence.
CONCLUSION
LDP provides the advantages of minimal access surgery with a comparable rate of POPF to ODP. LDP is considered suitable for benign and borderline-malignant pancreatic lesions.

Keyword

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy; Pancreatectomy; Pancreas neoplasm

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Body Mass Index
Hemorrhage
Humans
Incidence
Intestinal Obstruction
Length of Stay
Meals
Pancreas
Pancreatectomy
Pancreatic Fistula
Pancreatic Neoplasms
Postoperative Complications