The Value of Splenic Preservation With Distal Pancreatectomy

Abstract

DISTAL pancreatectomy is the operation of choice for benign or malignant disease of the body and tail of the pancreas. This procedure has traditionally included splenectomy. Over the past decade the addition of splenectomy to other major upper abdominal organ resection has been associated with increased postoperative morbidity, especially infectious complications, and therefore, whenever possible, splenic preservation is considered the standard of care in patients undergoing gastric or colon resection.^1-3