The pooled data. A: The spleen-preserving rate of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) was significantly higher than open distal pancreatectomy (ODP) [random effects model, RR 2.380 (1.177, 4.812), P = 0.016, I2 = 73.2%]; B: Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in LDP than in ODP [random effects model, WMD -2.713 (-3.799, 1.628), P = 0.00]; C: The proportion of malignant tumors showed no significant difference between LDP and ODP [fixed effects model, RR 1.036 (0.708, 1.516), P = 0.000, I2 = 0%]. Weights are from random effects analysis. CI: Confidence interval; RR: Risk ratio; WMD: Weighted mean differences.