Background:

Laparoscopic left pancreatectomy is a high complexity procedure that should be systematized to reduce complications and operative time.

Objective:

To describe the results achieved with a systematized technique for laparoscopic pancreatectomy and splenectomy.

Materials and methods:

We selected patients who were candidates for distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy between 2007 and 2022. Patients with systemic diseases were excluded. The laparoscopic technique consists of ligating the short vessels as a first step, then dissecting and cutting the splenic artery, leaving the section of the vein as the last surgical gesture to avoid venous congestion of the spleen. Perioperative, intraoperative and postoperative variables were analyzed.

Results:

A total of 155 patients were analyzed, 90 underwent laparoscopy and 65 underwent conventional surgery. Mean operative time was 168 minutes The operative time in the laparoscopic approach decreased from case 30 onwards. Mortality rate was 1.12%. The incidence of pancreatic fistula was 41%. Need for intraoperative transfusion occurred in 10.7% of the patients and the conversion rate was 13.3%.

Conclusion:

The systematization of the technique of pancreatic laparoscopy is essential to reduce surgical times, ensure safe dissections and performe more complex procedures.

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