Distal pancreatectomy: experience in a National Hospital.

Aims: To compare the short-term outcomes of patients undergoing open DP (ODP) and laparoscopic DP (LDP); and to analyze the association between the section site of the pancreas and pancreatic fistula.

Materials And Methods: Clinical, perioperative, and histopathologic data of patients who underwent ODP and LDP between 2009 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: 70 patients were included. 39 (56%) underwent ODP and 31 (44%) underwent LDP. The tumor size in ODP group was 70mm and in LDP group was 45mm (p = 0,032) Blood loss was lower in LDP group (229mL versus 498mL) (p = 0,001). Operative time, spleen preservation, B/C pancreatic fistula, major morbidity, reoperation, and length of hospital stay, were similar in both groups. There was no postoperative mortality. No differences were found in B/C pancreatic fistula rate regarding to pancreatic transection site.

Conclusions: LDP is a safe procedure, with perioperative outcomes similar to ODP and with less blood loss. The pancreatic transection site did not influence post-operative pancreatic fistula rate.