[Follow-up studies for long-term postoperative complications of Warshaw operation]

To explore the long-term postoperative complications of Warshaw operation for distal pancreatectomy with preservation of spleen.

Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of distal pancreatectomy on 84 cases between January 2006 and January 2012. Among them, 35 patients underwent Warshaw operation for distal pancreatectomy with preservation of spleen and another 23 had distal pancreatectomy with Kimura operation. All of them were followed up.

All procedures were successful. There was no perioperative mortality. During the follow-up period, 2 patients undergoing Warshaw operation were lost. The median follow-up period was 2.6 years (range: 0.75-6.75). Twenty-six patients with the recent neuroimaging data showed: 5 patients were diagnosed of splenic infarction and the incidence rate was 19.2% (5/26) and 6 with gastric varices and the incidence rate was 23.1% (6/26). But none of them developed gastrointestinal hemorrhage or splenic abscess.

The Warshaw operation for distal pancreatectomy with preservation of spleen may increase the risk of long-term postoperative complications so that its operative indication must be strictly mastered.