[Distal pancreatic resection--indications, techniques and complications].

Aim: Description of the indications, surgical technique and postoperative complications of distal pancreatic resection.

Methods: We analyzed the prospectively documented perioperative data of 41 patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy between 1994 and 2001. Indications for resection were chronic pancreatitis (n = 21), malignant or benign tumors (n = 19) and others (n = 1).