Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Robotic Spleen-Preserving Distal Pancreatectomy: The Warshaw and Kimura Techniques
Published on: July 26, 2024
Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy
Erik Schlöricke1, Jan Nolde, Martin Hoffmann
1Surgical Clinic, University Clinic of Schleswig-Holstein, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany. e.schloericke@gmx.de
Purpose:
For a long time, laparoscopic pancreatic surgery was simply a matter of extended diagnostics without a simultaneous resection.
Methods:
The increase of experience in complex laparoscopic procedures combined with a substantial improvement in technical equipment has led to the possibility of performing pancreatic resections laparoscopically.
Results:
In contrast to the experimental laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy has proved its safety and efficacy.
Conclusion:
In order to avoid splenectomy-associated complications, such as the OPSI-syndrome or formation of abscesses in the splenic area, the spleen-preserving technique is more favorable. Due to ischemia caused by the resection of the splenic vessels, as well as portal hypertension in the long-term follow-up, those vessels should remain untouched. The following article and video describe our approach for laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with sparing of the splenic vessels.
