Central Pancreatectomy

A central pancreatectomy is most suitable for benign or low-grade tumors in the neck or middle of the pancreas. The remaining pancreatic tissue is split into two parts – the head and the body. The portion of the pancreas closer to the small intestine is sealed, allowing it to drain into the small intestine as usual. The tail of the pancreas, which produces digestive enzymes, is sewn into the back of the stomach or small bowel so that digestion can continue as usual.

By maintaining as much of the normal pancreatic function as possible, the goal is to minimize the risk of developing diabetes and pancreatic insufficiency after surgery. Pancreatic insufficiency requires patients to take enzymes in supplement form for the rest of their lives.

Central Pancreatectomy Statistics and Risks

Central pancreatectomy surgery requires a few hours of operative time, and its complexity comes with risks and considerations, including:

• Bleeding, which will require an additional procedure
• Infection
• A leak at the connection between the tail of the pancreas and the GI tract. This increases the overall complication rate over a distal pancreatectomy. Due to a lower rate of post-op diabetes, the somewhat higher complication rate may be justified.

Contact us to learn more about your pancreas health and pancreas surgery options.