Laparoscopic central pancreatectomy

Background: The role of mini-invasive surgery in pancreatic surgery is still being debated. Indications and results are still controversial. Only a few centers in the world report on laparoscopic pancreatic resections. With the aim of improving the use of minimally invasive surgery, we have devised a novel laparoscopic procedure for surgical treatment of neuroendocrine tumor of the neck of the pancreas. Methods: A central laparoscopic pancreatic resection was successfully performed. The pancreatic resection was performed using the harmonic scalpel. The duct was isolated and transected. The proximal duct stump was closed by an endoscopic stitch. The pancreaticojejunostomy was intracorporeally performed using a Roux-en-Y loop. Results: Histologic findings showed a well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. Operating time was 330 minutes and blood loss 300 mL. The postoperative course was uneventful. Conclusions: Laparoscopic central pancreatectomy is a feasible and safe procedure. The minimally invasive approach ensures an adequate treatment despite requiring the expertise of highly skilled laparoscopic surgeons.