Laparoscopic left pancreatectomy: current concepts.

The minimally invasive approach has been slow to gain acceptance in the field of pancreatic surgery even though its advantages over the open approach have been extensively documented in the medical literature. The reasons for the reluctant use of the technique are manifold. Laparoscopic distal or left sided pancreatic resections have slowly become the standard approach to lesions of the pancreatic body and tail as a result of evolution in technology and experience. A number of studies have shown the potential advantages of the technique in terms of safety, blood loss, oncological and economic feasibility, hospital stay and time to recovery from surgery. This review aims to provide an overview of the recent advances in the field of laparoscopic left pancreatectomy (LLP) and discuss potential future developments.