Background Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy is gaining acceptance for the treatment of insulinomas of the pancreatic body and tail. The aim of this report is to evaluate the feasibility, safety and outcomes of this procedure in a retrospective series. Methods From May 2004 to November 2013, 9 patients underwent laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy for benign insulinomas in our department. Tumors were single and sporadic in eight patients, while the remaining patient had insulinomas in the setting of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Tumors were located by preoperative imaging in all cases. Laparoscopic ultrasound was always performed to guide the surgical procedure. Results All the operations were carried out laparoscopically with a mean operative time of 110 min (range 90–210 min) and a mean blood loss of 50 ml (range 30–120 ml). One patient (11.1%) died on the 22nd post-operative day for massive intra-abdominal bleeding associated with pancreatitis of the stump. Two patients (22.2%) developed pancreatic fistula that healed conservatively. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 7.1 days (range 5–18 days). All alive patients were free from recurrence after a mean follow-up of 45 months (range 11–72 months). Conclusion Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy is safe and feasible for the management of benign insulinomas. Definition of the tumor with preoperative imaging and laparoscopic ultrasound is essential to achieve high cure rate with minimal conversion.
