A Case of Spleen─preserving Distal Pancreatectomy with Splenic Arteriovenous Resection（Warshaw Technique）for Traumatic Pancreatic Injury in a Young Patient

Abstract

A 17–year–old man presented to us with a history of sustaining injuries during a soccer match. Abdominal organ damage was suspected, and he was admitted to our hospital. Abdominal contrast–enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed pancreatic tail injury (type Ⅲb pancreatic injury) and splenic artery injury. Surgery was performed. At laparotomy, the pancreas was completely transected at the pancreatic tail. Because it was difficult to preserve the splenic artery and vein, we adopted the Warshaw technique and performed spleen–preserving distal pancreatectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on POD 18. Traumatic pancreatic injury often affects relatively young people, and organ preservation should be considered. The Warshaw technique is a simple and safe procedure for preserving the spleen in trauma surgery.