Research Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2014; 20(14): 4030-4036
Published online Apr 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i14.4030
Combined laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation for benign pancreatic neoplasm
Gianpaolo Balzano, Michele Carvello, Lorenzo Piemonti, Rita Nano, Riccardo Ariotti, Alessia Mercalli, Raffaella Melzi, Paola Maffi, Marco Braga, Carlo Staudacher
Gianpaolo Balzano, Michele Carvello, Riccardo Ariotti, Marco Braga, Carlo Staudacher, Department of Surgery, San Raffaele Research Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
Lorenzo Piemonti, Rita Nano, Alessia Mercalli, Raffaella Melzi, Paola Maffi, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases-Diabetes Research Institute, Islet Processing Activity, San Raffaele Research Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
Author contributions: All the authors contributed equally to this manuscript.
Correspondence to: Gianpaolo Balzano, MD, Department of Surgery, San Raffaele Research Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy, balzano.gianpaolo@hsr.it
Telephone: +39-2-26432664  Fax: +39-2-26437802
Received: November 24, 2012
Revised: February 5, 2013
Accepted: March 6, 2013
Published online: April 14, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: The article describes, for the first time, a combination of techniques to reduce all possible consequences of pancreatic resection for benign/borderline neoplasms located at the pancreatic body-neck. The procedure combines laparoscopy, spleen preservation and islet autotransplantation. The laparoscopic approach reduces the access trauma of an extensive surgery. The spleen preservation avoids infectious and hematological complications related to splenectomy. Islet autotransplantation could reduce the incidence of pancreatogenic diabetes after resection.