Treatment of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, neuroendocrine and periampullary pancreatic tumors using robotic surgery: a safe and feasible technique

In the last few years, robotic surgery has started to take its place in pancreatic surgery. Robotic surgery provides advantages such as enhanced visualisation and freedom of dissection within a confined space and also allows economical surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and short-term outcome of the robotic approach using the da Vinci robotic system in pancreatic/peripancreatic tumors other than pancreatic carcinomas. Fifteen patients with eight intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, four pancreatic neuroendocrine and three periampulary tumors were included in this initial series. Seven left pancreatectomies, five pancreatoduodenectomies and two total pancreatectomies were performed at Albert Einstein Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The mean operating room time for all the procedures was 503 min (315–775 min). Blood transfusion was necessary in one patient (3 units). The mean length of stay for all patients was 16 days (5–52 days). Large series of robotic pancreatic surgery should be described and the decision as to its routine use will come from cumulative experience. This surgical system allows difficult procedures to be performed more easily, effectively and precisely.