Early management of traumatic pancreatic transection by spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy

Pancreatic trauma is a common cause of acute pancreatitis in children and is often treated by conservative measures alone. Conservative measures are more likely to fail when there is complete pancreatic duct disruption. We report a case of complete transaction of the pancreatic neck following blunt trauma in a 14-year-old boy. Complete duct disruption was confirmed by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. The patient was successfully managed by a laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy and recovered quickly without complications. The merit of a laparoscopic approach to severe pancreatic injury in children is discussed.