Background: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) has been shown to be an effective surgical option for benign lesions in the body and tail of the pancreas. However, its advantages and disadvantages have not been well characterized. In this study, we compared the outcomes of LDP and open pancreatectomy performed in our clinic.
Materials and Methods: Peri- and postoperative outcomes were retrospectively compared between patients with benign pancreatic disorders who underwent open distal pancreatectomy (ODP) (n=35) and those who underwent LDP (n=40). The peri- and postoperative factors analyzed included operative time, blood loss, hospital stay, postoperative recovery, biochemical findings and complications.
Results: LDP was associated with significantly less operative blood loss (363 vs 606 ml; P = 0.001), shorter hospital stay (22 vs 27 day; P = 0.009), but longer operative time (342 vs 250 min; P = 0.000), compared with ODP. There were no significant differences between the two groups in complication rates or postoperative recovery except for significantly shorter duration of postoperative pain killer intake and earlier improvement of the biochemical analysis in LDP than in ODP.
Conclusions: LDP appears to be a safe and desirable procedure for the management of benign pancreatic diseases, with outcomes similar to ODP.