Laparoscopic Surgery in Patients with Sporadic and Multiple Insulinomas Associated with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1

There have recently been reports of a limited number of laparoscopic procedures in patients with clinically manifest hyperinsulinism. However, the precise role of laparoscopy remains unknown. Between January 1998 and September 2003, 11 consecutive patients (10 women and 1 man; mean age, 40 years; age range, 22-66 years) with sporadic insulinoma and two female patients (25 and 40 years old) with multiple insulinomas associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) were operated on using the laparoscopic approach. Endoscopic ultrasonography was used to localize the tumor preoperatively in 90% of patients with sporadic insulinoma. In patients with MEN-1, computed tomography and octreoscan-(111)In demonstrated multiple tumors. Laparoscopic ultrasonography (LapUS) was performed in all patients for operative decision-making. Of 11 patients with sporadic insulinoma, laparoscopic enucleation (LapEn) was planned in 8 patients, but in 1 patient, the use of LapUS missed the tumor and the patient was converted to open surgery. Mean operating time after LapEn (seven patients) was 180 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 200 ml. The mean hospital stay was 5 days. In three of the 11 patients, laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (LapSPDP) was performed; the mean operative time was 240 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 360 ml. Postoperative complications occurred in three of seven patients after LapEn (three pancreatic fistulas managed conservatively, and one case of bleeding requiring reoperation). LapSPDP was performed in both patients with MEN-1; in one patient with splenic vessel preservation (SVP), the operating time was 210 minutes and blood loss was 650 ml, with a hospital stay of 6 days. In another patient without SVP, the operating time was 150 minutes and blood loss was 300 ml. The latter patient developed a 4-cm splenic infarct managed conservatively, and the hospital stay was 14 days. LapEn and LapSPDP are feasible and safe and achieved cure in patients with sporadic insulinoma and multiple insulinomas associated with MEN-1. However, the risk of pancreatic leakage after LapEn remains high, and LapSPDP without SVP may be associated with splenic infarct.