Objective: To summarize the experience of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen.
Methods: From Nov 2003 to Dec 2004, 2 patients with cystic lesions in the body and tail of the pancreas underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen.
Results: Both of the operations were successful with the operative time of 220 min and 190 min respectively, and the blood loss were 450 ml and 350 ml. There was no postoperative complication and the pathological diagnosis was pancreatic serous cystadenoma. Both patients' symptom disappeared after operation without recurrence during the follow-up of 18 and 5 months.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen is safe and feasible for the management of benign tumor in the body and tail of pancreas with the advantages of reduced injury, earlier recovery and less complication.