Abstract By convention, resection of the proximal pancreas includes the distal stomach (and duodenum) and resection of the distal pancreas includes the spleen. In 28 patients the stomach and spleen were preserved to minimize functional disability. In 13 patients with proximal pancreatectomy (7 men, median age 39 years) the pylorus and first 3 cm of duodenum were preserved. Indications were chronic pancreatitis (n = 9) and localized neoplasia (ampulla 2, duodenum 1, insulinoma 1). One patient died (aged 81 years), and 2 required re-operation for a pancreatic abscess or stenosed choledochojejunostomy. The 12 survivors are well at a median of 1·25 years (range 0·25–3·25 years) In 15 patients with distal pancreatectomy (6 men, median age 44 years) the spleen was preserved. Indications were islet cell tumour in 2 and chronic abdominal pain in 13, 9 of whom had an isolated dorsal pancreas and 6 of whom had histological evidence of chronic pancreatitis. Recovery was uneventful apart from 2 patients with a fluid collection in the lesser sac, 1 needing percutaneous aspiration. In the absence of gross inflammatory adherence, partial pancreatectomy need not entail removal of the adjacent stomach or spleen.