Are major laparoscopic pancreatic resections worthwhile? A prospective study of 32 patients in a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery has been used increasingly as a less invasive alternative to conventional open surgery. Recently, laparoscopic therapy for pancreatic diseases has made significant strides. The current investigation studied pancreatic resection by laparoscopy. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety, and outcome of laparoscopic pancreatic major resection for benign and malignant lesions of the pancreas.
METHODS: A prospective study of laparoscopic pancreatic resections was undertaken in patients with benign and malignant lesions of the pancreas. Over an 8-year period, 32 patients underwent laparoscopic pancreatic major resection: 21 left pancreatectomies (1 performed using a retroperitoneal approach), and 11 pancreatoduodenectomies (10 Whipple procedures and 1 total pancreatectomy). All the operations were performed in a single institution.
RESULTS: The operations were performed without serious complications. Only one left pancreatectomy was converted to laparotomy because of massive splenic bleeding, and one Whipple procedure was converted because of adhesion to the portal vein. In four of the Whipple operations, the resection was performed completely laparoscopically, and the reconstruction was done via a small midline incision. There was no operative mortality. In 16 patients of the left pancreatectomy group, the spleen was preserved. The mean blood loss was 150 and 162 ml; and the mean operating time was 154 and 284 min, respectively, for the left pancreatectomy and the Whipple procedure. Postoperative complications occurred for five patients after left pancreatectomy and for three patients after the Whipple procedure. Two patients needed surgical reexploration after left pancreatectomy because of intraperitoneal haemorrhage and eventration of the extraction site. Two patients underwent reoperation after the Whipple procedure: one because of intraabdominal bleeding and the other because of small bowel obstruction. The mean hospital stay was 10.8 days after left the pancreatectomy and 13.6 days after the whipple procedure.
CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic left pancreatectomy for benign and malignant lesions is feasible, safe, and beneficial. We believe that pancreatoduodenectomy should be performed only in selected cases and by a highly skilled laparoscopic surgeon. If there is any doubt, an open resection should be performed.