Background: Several approaches have been reported during laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (LSPDP), such as medial, lateral, and posterior approaches. This study reports a tail-first approach that is mobilization of the pancreatic gland from tail to neck followed by division. The short-term outcomes are described.

Methods: Cases which underwent LSPDP from 2014 to 2020 at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University were included. Clinical parameters were collected and analyzed.

Results: One hundred five cases were collected, including 54 Kimura, 45 Warshaw, and 6 modified-Warshaw procedures. Seventy-seven patients (73.3%) underwent LSPDP by a tail-first approach (TFA-LSPDP) and 28 (26.7%) by a medial approach (M-LSPDP). Compared with the M-LSPDP, the TFA-LSPDP group had a lower incidence of splenic infraction (9.1 VS 25.0%, P = 0.05) and a higher frequency of Kimura procedure (55.8 VS 39.3%, P = 0.053).

Conclusion: TFA-LSPDP is feasible and safe for treatment of benign and low malignant lesions of the distal pancreas, which has a lower incidence of splenic infraction and a higher frequency of splenic vessel preservation compared with the traditional medial approach.