Distal Pancreatectomy--own experience.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY was the retrospective analysis of early results after distal pancreatectomy (DP). MATERIAL AND METHODS During the period between January, 2000 and December, 2010 distal pancreatectomy was performed in 73 patients, including 32 (43.83%) male, and 41 (56.16%) female patients. Average patient age amounted to 53.92 ± 14.37 years. Surgery was performed by means of laparoscopy or the classical method. RESULTS The mean duration of the procedure amounted to 179.79 ± 59.90 minutes. Fifty-nine (80.82%) patients were subject to splenectomy. After the resection the pancreatic stump was hand-sewn in 69 patients. Pancreatoenterostomy was performed in 4 (5.47%) patients. Early postoperative complications occurred in 11 (15%) patients. Reoperation was required in two (2.7 %) patients. The postoperative mortality rate amounted to 2.7%. The average hospitalization period after surgery amounted to 12.72 ± 9.8 (1- 66) days. CONCLUSIONS Distal pancreatectomy performed in a center experienced in pancreatic surgery is a safe procedure characterized by a low rate of complications and mortality.