Laparoscopic approach to pancreatic disease

Minimally invasive techniques in the treatment of pancreatic disease have been revolutionary and provide clinical evidence of decreased morbidity and comparable efficacy to traditional, open surgery. Although the use of other laparoscopic solid organ procedures has outdistanced therapeutic laparoscopy of the pancreas, the advent of laparoscopic pancreatic surgery preceded the general use of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the popularity of other solid organ procedures. This article describes four main applications of laparoscopic pancreatic procedures, which are staging of pancreatic cancer, palliative bypass procedures for pancreatic cancer, resection of benign and malignant pancreatic disease, and pancreatic drainage procedures.