Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy in elderly subjects: splenic vessel sacrifice may be associated with a higher rate of splenic infarction

Spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy can be performed safely in elderly patients, with results comparable with those achieved in younger subjects. However, elderly patients undergoing division of the splenic artery and vein may be at higher risk for splenic infarct and the aetiology of this is unclear.