Comparative study of laparoscopic and open distal pancreatectomy

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 versus 606mL; P=0.001) and shorter hospital stay (22 versus 27 day; P=0.009), but longer operative time (342 versus 250min; P=0.000), compared with ODP. There were no significant differences between the two groups in complication rates or postoperative recovery, except for the 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, desirable procedure for the management of benign pancreatic diseases, with outcomes similar to ODP.