Lessons learned from follow up of spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with artery saving and vein sacrificing

Background: The Warshaw method as a technique for spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (SPDP) carries the risk of splenic infarction following splenic artery ligation. This study introduces a modified Warshaw method, which preserves the splenic artery while sacrificing the splenic vein, and compares its outcomes with the traditional Warshaw method.

Methods: According to the bleeding status during vessel dissection, either the Warshaw method (group W) or the modified Warshaw method (group MW) was used. Guided by preoperative imaging, we utilized the planned modified Warshaw method (group PMW) when the splenic vein was embedded in the pancreatic parenchyma.

Results: Group MW demonstrated a lower incidence of splenic infarction and engorged gastric collaterals than group W (6.3% vs. 69.8%, P<0.001; 25.0% vs. 55.8%, P=0.003, respectively). There were no significant differences in perioperative changes of splenic volume between the two groups. Group PMW experienced less estimated blood loss than group W (71.9±59.13 vs. 357.9±447.72 cc, P=0.006).

Conclusions: The planned modified Warshaw method is an efficient and safe technique, resulting in lower estimated blood loss and favorable outcomes concerning splenic infarction and gastric collaterals than the Warshaw method without inducing congestive splenomegaly.