Conservation of the Spleen With Distal Pancreatectomy

To the Editor.—The article by Warshaw1in the May 1988 issue of theArchives, describing his experience with preservation of blood circulation to the spleen via the short gastric and gastroepiploic vessels during a distal pancreatectomy that includes the splenic artery and vein, complements our own experience with procurement of segmental pancreas grafts for transplantation from living related donors.2The technique of distal pancreatectomy for segmental transplantation from living related donors was initially described in 19803and has been illustrated in detail.4The splenic artery and vein are ligated in the hilum of the spleen, preserving the collaterals between the short gastric and gastroepiploic vessels and leaving the spleen in its bed. The distal pancreas is then mobilized to the level of the portal vein, the pancreatic neck is transected, the splenic artery is divided at its origin from the celiac axis, and the splenic