Comparison of Outcomes Between Warshaw and Kimura Techniques for Spleen-preserving Minimally Invasive Distal Pancreatectomy

Spleen-persevering distal pancreatectomy (SP-DP) has been widely advocated as a routine procedure for benign or low-grade malignant tumors in the pancreatic body and tail, especially with a minimally invasive approach. Spleen preservation can be accomplished with Kimura technique (KT) or Warshaw technique (WT) Both of the two techniques were proved to be feasible and efficient. However, the perioperative outcomes and long-term benefits between patients with KT and WT in spleen-persevering minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (SP-MIDP) remains controversial.

Several small series have reported a slightly higher prevalence of postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) in patients who undergo KT than those undergo WT. The exposure of splenic vessels to erosive pancreatic juice and the preservation of splenic vessels itself may explain the higher chance of PPH in KT. Larger volume studies are warranted to confirm this finding and to clarify the clinical significance. This study compared the perioperative outcomes between the two spleen-preserving techniques, with a focus on parameters relating to perioperative patient safety. Especially, the incidence and clinical relevance of PPH in SP-MIDP were evaluated.