Current Status and Prospects of Robotic Pancreatic Surgery

Abstract

Introduction Over the past two decades, the application of robotic surgery (RS) in pancreatic surgery has steadily increased. RS offers advantages such as reduced blood loss, less postoperative pain, and shorter hospital stays. However, there is still no consensus on its safety, efficacy, and learning curve in pancreatic diseases. This study aims to summarize the current state of RS in pancreatic surgery and to forecast its prospects.

Method A literature search was conducted in PubMed using keywords including “robotic surgery”, “pancreatic surgery”, “minimally invasive surgery”, “open surgery” and “laparoscopic surgery”. Studies on robotic surgery in pancreatic surgery were collected, including research comparing robotic surgery with open or laparoscopic surgery.

Results RS has been applied to various pancreatic surgeries, demonstrating good safety and feasibility. Compared to open or laparoscopic surgery, robotic pancreatic surgery (RPS) shows favorable short-term outcomes such as reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and lower conversion rates, especially in surgeries with narrow operative spaces or complex anatomical structures. No significant differences were reported in postoperative complications or short-term mortality rates. RPS achieves comparable R0 resection rates, lymph node harvest numbers, and long-term outcomes. However, RPS also presents limitations, including a long learning curve, high surgical costs, a lack of dedicated instruments, and the absence of natural tactile feedback.

Conclusion Robotic pancreatic surgery demonstrates favorable short-term and long-term outcomes, showing promising potential for application. Further multi-center randomized controlled trials are needed to determine its safety and efficacy conclusively.