Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: A case report

Laparoscopic pancreatectomy is a newly emerging surgical technology. We herein report a case of solid and papillary tumor of the pancreas successfully treated with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with spleen preservation. A 17-year-old female presented with a palpable epigastric mass. The preoperative diagnosis was an organized hematoma or solid and papillary tumor of the pancreas. The patient was put in the supine position under general anesthesia and pneumoperitoneum was established. The gastrocolic ligament was divided using the ultrasonically activated scalpel to enter into the lesser sac. The pancreatic lesion localized by laparoscopic ultrasonography was a solid mass. The splenic artery and the splenic vein were detached from the pancreas intact. The pancreatic neck was transected using an endo-GIA 30. The pancreatic tail was detached from the splenic hilum by electrocautery dissection. The surgical specimen was put into an endo-bag and removed from the peritoneal cavity via a 4 cm left flank wound. Prophylactic octreotide was given subcutaneously. The patient's bowel movement returned on post op. day 3 and oral intake started on post op. day 4. The patient was not discharged until post op. day 8 because of a minor wound infection. The pathology diagnosis was solid and papillary tumor of the pancreas.