Background  

This paper describes our tailored and methodological approach to laparoscopic drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts (PPs) based on an anatomical classification.

Methods  

We adopted the laparoscopic approach in “all comers” who had PPs requiring surgical drainage. The recipient organ for drainage (e.g., cystgastrostomy, cystjejunostomy, or cystduodenostomy) and method of access (e.g., transgastric, endogastric, exogastric or lesser sac, and infracolic) were decided based on preoperative computed tomography (CT) and intraoperative findings. The results shown represent median (range).

Results  

Between 2001 and 2009, 30 laparoscopic drainage procedures for PPs were performed in 28 consecutive patients. The surgical approach included transgastric (n = 17) or endogastric (n = 3) cystgastrostomy for large retrogastric PPs (n = 20), exogastric cystgastrostomy for small perigastric PPs (n = 4), cystduodenostomy (n = 1) under ultrasound guidance, cystjejunostomy for infracolic PPs (n = 4), and one external drainage. The operative time was 118 (25–300) min. There was one conversion to laparotomy (3.3%), low morbidity (3.3%), and no mortality. The postoperative hospital stay was 2 (1–7) days. At a follow-up of 15 (1–48) months, PPs recurred in two patients (7.1%) and were drained by laparoscopic cystgastrostomy.

Conclusion  

CT findings and laparoscopic exploration demonstrate the anatomical characteristics of PPs and enable successful planning and execution of their laparoscopic drainage.