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Initial experience with robotic pancreatic surgery in Singapore: single institution experience with 30 consecutive cases
Author(s) -
Goh Brian K. P.,
Low TzeYi,
Lee SerYee,
Chan ChungYip,
Chung Alexander Y. F.,
Ooi London L. P. J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/ans.14673
Subject(s) - medicine , enucleation , surgery , distal pancreatectomy , pancreaticoduodenectomy , percutaneous , pancreatic fistula , robotic surgery , single center , resection , general surgery , pancreas , endocrinology
Background Presently, the worldwide experience with robotic pancreatic surgery (RPS) is increasing although widespread adoption remains limited. In this study, we report our initial experience with RPS. Methods This is a retrospective review of a single institution prospective database of 72 consecutive robotic hepatopancreatobiliary surgeries performed between 2013 and 2017. Of these, 30 patients who underwent RPS were included in this study of which 25 were performed by a single surgeon. Results The most common procedure was robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP) which was performed in 20 patients. This included eight subtotal pancreatectomies, two extended pancreatecto‐splenectomies ( en bloc gastric resection) and 10 spleen‐saving‐RDP. Splenic preservation was successful in 10/11 attempted spleen‐saving‐RDP. Eight patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomies (five hybrid with open reconstruction), one patient underwent a modified Puestow procedure and one enucleation of uncinate tumour. Four patients had extended resections including two RDP with gastric resection and two pancreaticoduodenectomies with vascular resection. There was one (3.3%) open conversion and seven (23.3%) major (>Grade II) morbidities. Overall, there were four (13.3%) clinically significant (Grade B) pancreatic fistulas of which three required percutaneous drainage. These occurred after three RDP and one robotic enucleation. There was one reoperation for port‐site hernia and no 30‐day/in‐hospital mortalities. The median post‐operative stay was 6.5 (range: 3–36) days and there were six (20%) 30‐day readmissions. Conclusion Our initial experience showed that RPS can be adopted safely with a low open conversion rate for a wide variety of procedures including pancreaticoduodenectomy.