Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are comparatively rare pancreatic malignancies that exhibit diverse biologic behavior, ranging from indolent tumors to widely metastatic cancers, with up to 15 % secreting hormones that cause symptoms. As a consequence, the management of PNETs is highly individualized and can include active surveillance of small (1-2 cm) and very small (< 1 cm) nonfunctioning tumors without worrisome features, parenchymal-sparing resection of appropriately located tumors, anatomic pancreatectomy and, in select cases, debulking of metastatic disease, particularly in the liver. This review synthesizes society recommendations and contemporary evidence guiding the surgical management of PNETs. Innovations in molecular profiling and systemic therapies hold promise to refine surgical algorithms for this heterogeneous tumor.

Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) represents a significant complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Therefore, the early prediction of CR-POPF is of paramount importance. Based on above, this study sought to develop a CR-POPF prediction model that amalgamates radiomics and clinical features to predict CR-POPF, utilizing Shapley Additive explanations (SHAP) for visualization.

Extensive radiomics features were extracted from preoperative enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) images of patients scheduled for PD. Subsequently, feature selection was performed using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (Lasso) regression and random forest (RF) algorithm to select pertinent radiomics and clinical features. Last, 15 CR-POPF prediction models were developed using five distinct machine learning (ML) predictors, based on selected radiomics features, selected clinical features, and a combination of both. Model performance was compared using DeLong's test for the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) differences.

The CR-POPF prediction model based on the XGBoost predictor with the combination of the radiomics and clinical features selected by Lasso regression and RF exhibited superior performance among these 15 CR-POPF prediction models, achieving an accuracy of 0.85, an AUC of 0.93. DeLong's test showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) when compared to the radiomics-only and clinical-only models, with recall of 0.63, precision of 0.65, and F1 score of 0.64.

The proposed CR-POPF prediction model based on the XGBoost predictor with the combination of the radiomics and clinical features selected by Lasso regression and RF can effectively predicting the CR-POPF and may provide strong support for early clinical management of CR-POPF.

We sought to determine the significance of age and frailty in predicting peri-operative outcomes of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD).

Data from our institution's prospectively collected robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy database was analyzed for the years 2018-2023. The 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) was used as a concise stratification tool for frailty. Predictive models for composite adverse event (CAE) variable were created using adjusted logistic regressions.

116 patients underwent RPD. Mean age of this cohort was 70.65 years (±11.44). The mean operative time was 311.47 min (±71.35) and the estimated blood loss was 107.07 mL (±128.49). The most common postoperative complications included in the CAE were pancreatic leak (n = 10, 8.62 %), delayed gastric emptying (n = 10, 8.62 %), bleeding (n = 5, 4.31 %), and atrial fibrillation (n = 2, 1.72 %). The 90-day mortality was 1.72 %. There was a gradual increase in the odds ratio of CAE with increasing mFI-5 score: OR 1.52 (95 % CI 0.25-9.20) for mFI-5 score of 1 and OR 31.92 (95 % CI 1.79-570.09) for mFI-5 score of 4 compared to score of 0.

Preoperative mFI-5 score may serve as a risk stratification tool for RPDs.

Minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy has gained widespread acceptance among hepatopancreatobiliary surgeons due to its demonstrated advantages in perioperative outcomes compared to the conventional open approach. This meta-analysis, along with trial sequential analysis, aimed to compare the outcomes of robotic pancreatoduodenectomy and laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy based on the current available evidence.

A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted from inception to July 2024. We assessed intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, including open conversion rates, readmission, reoperation, and mortality. Additional factors, such as blood loss and the number of lymph nodes resected, were also evaluated. Quality assessment was performed using Cochrane's risk of bias tools. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on propensity score matching status, and trial sequential analysis was applied to statistically significant results on first analysis.

We meta-analyzed seventeen studies, with a total of 5,483 patients. The meta-analysis reported lower rates of open conversion (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.26-0.61; p = < 0.001) and a higher number of lymph nodes resected (MD 3.5; 95% CI 1.45-5.55; p = 0.0008) in the RPD group. These results remained consistent after subgroup analysis. Trial sequential analysis confirmed true positive results, indicating that further studies are unnecessary to detect a significant difference. However, other perioperative outcomes did not show statistical significance and failed to reach the required information size for definitive conclusions.

This meta-analysis of non-randomized cohorts found lower rates of open conversion and a higher number of lymph nodes resected in patients undergoing robotic pancreatoduodenectomy. However, the initial analysis did not reveal statistically significant differences in transfusion rates, multivisceral and vascular resections, hemorrhage, delayed gastric emptying, mortality, or readmission rates. Future studies should focus on randomized designs, target more specific populations, and include long-term outcomes for a more comprehensive analysis.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most aggressive and challenging malignancies to treat, with limited options for curative interventions.

The basic aim of the study is to find and compare the efficacy, survival rates, and complication rates of the Whipple procedure versus distal pancreatectomy in patients with pancreatic cancer.

This retrospective observational study was conducted at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute, Lahore. Patients were enrolled from November 2018 to November 2019. Data were collected from 30 patients. Data were collected from the patient's medical records to evaluate and compare the outcomes of the two surgical approaches. The 30 patients were categorized into two equal groups based on the surgical intervention they received.

The mean age was comparable between groups, with an overall mean of 59.5 years. Tumors in Group A (Whipple procedure) were larger on average (3.8 ± 1.2 cm) compared to Group B (distal pancreatectomy; 3.2 ± 1.1 cm). Lymph node involvement was observed in 16 (53.3%) patients overall, with Group A showing a slightly higher rate (nine, 60%) compared to Group B (seven, 46.7%). Additionally, Group A had a higher mean number of lymph nodes removed (18) than Group B (15), while comorbidities were reported in 11 (36.7%) patients overall. The study found that the readmission rate was higher in Group A at three (20%), compared to two (13.3%) in Group B, reflecting the more complex and challenging postoperative course associated with the Whipple procedure.

The Whipple procedure, performed for pancreatic head tumors, offers better long-term survival but carries a higher risk of complications, including delayed gastric emptying and pancreatic fistulas. In contrast, distal pancreatectomy, used for tumors in the body or tail, is associated with lower surgical complexity and fewer complications but may have less favorable survival outcomes due to the later-stage presentation of these tumors. Additionally, the frequent need for splenectomy in distal pancreatectomy increases the risk of postoperative infections.

GI (Gastrointestinal) malignancies are one of the most common and lethal cancers globally. The dawn of precision medicine and developing technologies have reduced the mortality rates for GI malignancies, underscoring the main role of early detection methods for survival rate improvement. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a new technology that may improve GI cancer screening, treatment, and therapeutic efficiency for better patient care. AI could accelerate the development of targeted therapies by analyzing considerable data from the genome and identifying biomarkers connected with GI tumors. This opens up new avenues toward more tailored and personalized approaches, raising efficacy while reducing undesired side effects. For instance, AI may improve treatment outcomes by accurately predicting patient responses to therapeutic regimens, helping oncologists choose the most effective treatment options. This review will outline the transformative potential of AI in GI oncology by emphasizing the incorporation of AI-based technologies to enhance patient care.

Though open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) is the gold standard, robotic pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD) is on the rise due to its technical ease with robotic armamentarium and claim to decrease morbidity in the perioperative period. This study compares the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of RPD performed for periampullary neoplasms (PANs) with OPD.

This is a retrospective study conducted from January 2018 to December 2023 for all the patients who underwent either OPD or RPD for PANs. Demographic, peri-operative outcomes and oncological parameters [disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS)] were analysed and compared. The two groups were matched using 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) to reduce the risk of confounding.

A hundred patients were analysed (30 in RPD and 70 in OPD), and both groups were similar in demographic characteristics. Post-operative morbidity in terms of clinically relevant pancreatic fistula, post-pancreatectomy haemorrhage, delayed gastric emptying and overall Clavien-Dindo ≥ Grade 3 complications were similar in both groups. Surgical site infection (SSI) was significantly higher in the OPD group compared to RPD (31.4% vs. 6.7, p = 0.008); however, the median postoperative hospital stay was similar in both groups. After PSM (26 patients in each group), the RPD group had significantly more operative time (480 min vs. 360 min, p = 0.007) less blood loss (250 ml vs. 400 ml, p = 0.004), and similar SSI [2(7.7%) vs. 6(23.1%), p = 0.178). The R0 resection rate, lymph nodal yield, lymph nodal positivity, DFS and OS were similar in both groups.

The robotic approach for PD is technically safe and feasible with equivalent resection quality and oncological outcomes compared to the open approach. RPD has equivalent postoperative morbidity, DFS and OS.

High morbidity and mortality make pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) one of the most complicated surgical procedures. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the outcomes of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD).

A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Central, and Google Scholar was conducted from inception to November 2024. Studies comparing RPD and OPD in adults aged ≥ 18 years were included. Data for the outcomes of interest were extracted.

Forty-one studies with a total of 54,287 patients were pooled. RPD is significantly superior to OPD in terms of overall postoperative complications (RR = 0.91, 95% CI: [0.86-0.97]; p = 0.001), wound infections (RR = 0.63, 95% CI: [0.49-0.81], p = 0.0004), estimated blood loss (WMD = -171.99 ml, 95% CI: [ -217.76 to -126.22], p < 0.01) and hospitalization duration (WMD = -1.33 days, 95% CI: [ -1.84 to -0.82], p < 0.01) with a longer operating time (WMD = 73.22 min, 95% CI: [56.20 to 90.23], p < 0.01).

In conclusion, RPD shows a lower risk of wound infections and overall postoperative morbidity compared to OPD. It has lower estimated blood loss, shorter hospitalization duration, and a longer operating time. The two approaches were comparable in terms of resection quality. More high-quality RCTs are required to draw definite conclusions.

Minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) is considered one of the most complex procedures in general surgery. The number of articles on MIPD has been increasing annually. However, published reports often have complex research directions, and the focal points frequently change. Therefore, a comprehensive review and organization of the literature in this field is necessary.

To summarize current research, predict future hotspots and trends, and provide insights for MIPD development.

To conduct the study, the Web of Science Core Collection was searched for relevant articles. The analysis focused on the top 100 articles in the field. Two widely used bibliometric tools, CiteSpace and VOSviewer, were used to examine various aspects, including research directions, authors, countries, institutions, journals, and keywords.

The top 100 articles were published between 2005 and 2022, with the majority originating from the United States (n = 51). Among the contributing institutions, Pancreas Center of the University of Chicago and the Health System of the University of Chicago had the highest number of publications (n = 17). In terms of individual authors, "Zeh HJ" and "Zureikat AH" led with 13 articles each. The high-frequency keywords in the literature encompassed three main areas: Surgical modality, perioperative outcomes, and the learning curve. These keywords were further categorized into seven primary clusters, with the largest being "laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy".

The most influential studies predominantly originate from the United States, and there is growing interest in robotic surgery. Despite MIPD's potential benefits, further research is required to address technical challenges and improve outcomes.

The use of robotic surgery for pancreatic cancer resections is increasing over time. There are multiple studies comparing this approach to open surgery, specifically for Whipple and distal pancreatectomies. But there are limited data on its feasibility and oncologic efficacy in patients requiring total pancreatectomy.

This is a retrospective study from the 2010 to 2019 National Cancer Database comparing the postoperative, pathological, and long-term oncologic outcomes between robotic total pancreatectomy (RTP) and open total pancreatectomy (OTP) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

One hundred eighty-eight (5%) RTP and 3447 (95%) OTP patients were identified. The number of RTP increased from four in 2010 to 32 in 2019. There were no major differences in patient demographics and treatment characteristics, except that RTP patients were more likely to be performed at nonacademic centers and less likely to get radiation. After adjustment, there was similar yield of examined lymph nodes, rate of positive margin, 90-d mortality and receipt of adjuvant therapy between both groups. RTP was associated with a statistically significant shorter length of stay than OTP (9 versus 11 d respectively, P value <0.001). There was no difference in median overall survival between RTP and OTP (22.3 mo versus 23.3 mo, P value 0.688). The 1-, 3-, and 5-y overall survival rates for RTP were 78%, 31%, and 34% and those for OTP were 75%, 38%, and 30%, respectively. After adjustment, the use of robotic surgery was associated with similar overall survival to the open approach (hazard ratio 0.939, 95% confidence interval 0.760-1.161).

RTP is associated with similar short- and long-term mortality without sacrificing oncologic outcomes including adequate lymphadenectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy receipt with the advantage of shorter length of stay.

To evaluate recent minimally invasive pancreatectomy (MIP) trends for neoplastic disease and compare perioperative outcomes.

Patients who underwent open (OS) or MIP (laparoscopic-LS or robotic-RS) pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or non-pancreati-coduodenectomy resections (non-PD) were identified from PINC AI Healthcare Database. Outcomes were compared using multivariable regressions.

OS was the predominant approach for PD (87.8%); MIP was more common in non-PD (48.5%) than PD with a substantial RS uptake (11.7%-29.9%). In PDs, outcomes were similar except OS had a longer length of stay (LOS) and lower costs. In non-PDs, MIP patients were less likely to have prolonged LOS, intensive care unit admission, and overall complications than OS. Conversion to OS was lower in the RS approach than LS in PD and non-PD.

MIP for non-PD has become the most common operative approach with improved outcomes; MIP-PD has flat adoption and similar outcomes to OS. Robotics facilitates MIP (PD and non-PD) completion through fewer conversions to open surgery (OS).

Compared to open pancreaticoduodenectomies (OPD), the robotic (RPD) approach decreases the rate of complication and the length of stay (LOS). However, it remains unknown if these benefits persist in octogenarians, who are at higher risk for perioperative morbidity and mortality.

A retrospective analysis of the ACS-NSQIP database was performed to identify patients aged 80 years or older who underwent PD for pancreatic adenocarcinoma between 2015-2021. Patients who underwent RPD or OPD were compared using inversed probability weighting of the propensity score. Outcomes assessed include operative time, LOS, non-home discharge, major complications, unplanned readmission, return to the operating room, mortality, and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula.

Of 30,751 patients, 1720 were octogenarians. One thousand six hundred twenty-five patients (94 %) underwent OPD, and 95 (6 %) underwent RPD. RPD was significantly associated with a reduced incidence of major complications (32.6 % vs. 45.6 %; p < 0.01) and a lower rate of non-home discharge (24.7 % vs. 34.3%; p < 0.05). However, RPD was associated with a longer operative time (438 min vs. 342 min; p < 0.0001). There was no difference in other assessed outcomes.

RPD may reduce major postoperative complications and non-home discharges compared to the open approach for octogenarians.

To establish the first consensus guidelines on the safety and indications of robotics in Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary (HPB) surgery. The secondary aim was to identify priorities for future research.

HPB robotic surgery is reaching the IDEAL 2b exploration phase for innovative technology. An objective assessment endorsed by the HPB community is timely and needed.

The ROBOT4HPB conference developed consensus guidelines using the Zurich-Danish model. An impartial and multidisciplinary jury produced unbiased guidelines based on the work of 10 expert panels answering predefined key questions and considering the best-quality evidence retrieved after a systematic review. The recommendations conformed with the GRADE and SIGN50 methodologies.

Sixty-four experts from 20 countries considered 285 studies, and the conference included an audience of 220 attendees. The jury (n=10) produced recommendations or statements covering 5 sections of robotic HPB surgery: technology, training and expertise, outcome assessment, and liver and pancreatic procedures. The recommendations supported the feasibility of robotics for most HPB procedures and its potential value in extending minimally invasive indications, emphasizing, however, the importance of expertise to ensure safety. The concept of expertise was defined broadly, encompassing requirements for credentialing HPB robotics at a given center. The jury prioritized relevant questions for future trials and emphasized the need for prospective registries, including validated outcome metrics for the forthcoming assessment of HPB robotics.

The ROBOT4HPB consensus represents a collaborative and multidisciplinary initiative, defining state-of-the-art expertise in HPB robotics procedures. It produced the first guidelines to encourage their safe use and promotion.

Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) is used more commonly, but this surge is mostly based on observational data. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the short-term outcomes between RPD and open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) using data collected from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and propensity-score-matched (PSM) studies.

We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases for RCTs and PSM studies comparing RPD and OPD. Risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Twenty-four studies, encompassing two RCTs and 22 PSM studies, were included, with a total of 9393 patients (RPD group: 3919 patients; OPD group: 5474 patients). Although RPD was associated with a longer operative time (MD, 61.61 min), patients may benefit from reduced blood loss (MD, -154.05 ml), shorter length of stay (MD, -1.60 days), lower blood transfusion rate (RR, 0.85), and wound infection rate (RR, 0.61). There were no significant differences observed in 30-day readmission (RR, 0.99), 90-day mortality (RR, 0.97), overall morbidity (RR, 0.88), major complications (RR, 1.01), reoperation (RR, 1.08), bile leak (RR, 1.01), chylous leak (RR, 0.98), postoperative pancreatic fistula (RR, 0.97), post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage (RR, 1.15), delayed gastric emptying (RR, 0.88), number of harvested lymph nodes (MD, -0.12), and R0 resection (RR, 1.01) between the groups.

Although some short-term outcomes were similar between RPD and OPD, RPD exhibited reduced intraoperative blood loss, shorter hospital stays, lower wound infection, and blood transfusion rates. In the future, RPD may become a safe and effective alternative to OPD.

Background: The robotic approach is an appealing way to perform minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy. We compare robotic cases' short-term and oncological outcomes to a historical cohort of open cases. Methods: Data were collected in a prospective database between 2016 and 2024; complications were graded using the ISGPS definition for the specific pancreas-related complications and the Clavien-Dindo classification for overall complications. Furthermore, the Comprehensive Complication Index was calculated. All patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy were included, except those with acute or chronic pancreatitis, vascular tumour involvement or multi-visceral resections. Only the subset of patients with malignancy was regarded for the oncologic outcome. Results: In total, 100 robotic and 102 open pancreaticoduodenectomy cases are included. Equal proportions of patients have a main pancreatic duct ≤3 mm (p = 1.00) and soft consistency of the pancreatic remnant (p = 0.78). Surgical time is longer for robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (p < 0.01), and more patients have delayed gastric emptying (44% and 28.4%, p = 0.03). In the robotic group, the number of patients without any postoperative complications is higher (p = 0.02), and there is less chyle leak (p < 0.01). Ninety-day mortality, postoperative pancreatic fistula, and postpancreatectomy haemorrhage are similar. The lymph node retrieval and R0 resection rates are comparable. Conclusions: In conclusion, after robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy, remembering all cases during the learning curve are included, less chyle leak is observed, the proportion of patients without any complication is significantly larger, the surgical duration is longer, and more patients have delayed gastric emptying. Oncological results, i.e., lymph node yield and R0 resection rate, are comparable to open pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD) has emerged as an alternative to open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD). However, the extent of variation in the use and outcomes of MIPD in relation to OPD among countries is unclear as international studies using registry data are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the use, patient selection, and outcomes of MIPD and OPD in four transatlantic audits for pancreatic surgery.

A post hoc comparative analysis including consecutive patients after MIPD and OPD from four nationwide and multicenter pancreatic surgery audits from North America, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden (2014-2020). Patient factors related to MIPD were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Outcome analyses excluded the Swedish audit because < 100 MIPD were performed during the studied period.

Overall, 44,076 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy were included (29,107 North America, 7586 Germany, 4970 the Netherlands, and 2413 Sweden), including 3328 MIPD procedures (8%). The use of MIPD varied widely among countries (absolute largest difference [ALD] 17%, p < 0.001): 7% North America, 4% Germany, 17% the Netherlands, and 0.1% Sweden. Over time, the use of MIPD increased in North America and the Netherlands (p < 0.001), mostly driven by robotic MIPD, but not in Germany (p = 0.297). Patient factors predicting the use of MIPD included country, later year of operation, better performance status, high POPF-risk score, no vascular resection, and non-malignant indication. Conversion rates were higher in laparoscopic MIPD (range 28-45%), compared to robotic MIPD (range 9-37%). In-hospital/30-day mortality differed among North America, Germany, and the Netherlands; MIPD (2%, 7%, 4%; ALD 5%, p < 0.001) and OPD (2%, 5%, 3%; ALD 3%, p < 0.001), similar to major morbidity; MIPD (25%, 42%, 38%, ALD 17%, p < 0.001) and OPD (25%, 31%, 30%, ALD 6%, p < 0.001), respectively.

Considerable differences were found in the use and outcome, including conversion and mortality rates, of MIPD and OPD among four transatlantic audits for pancreatic surgery. Our findings highlight the need for international collaboration to optimize treatment standards and patient outcome.

Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is a complex abdominal surgery, and the adoption of robotic PD has been on the rise because of its numerous benefits. This study aimed to investigate the current PD trends, focusing on advancements in robotic surgery.

Between 2015 and 2023, 1231 patients underwent open PD, whereas 630 underwent robot-assisted PD (RAPD). Demographics and surgical outcomes were analyzed according to the time period. Moreover, a propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was performed to evaluate the clinical outcomes.

The proportion of RAPD cases gradually increased from 6.3% in 2015 to 50.9% in 2020, reaching a plateau of >50% thereafter. The proportion of patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy increased during the late period (11.4% vs. 17.6%), with many of these patients undergoing open PD. Additionally, RAPD was performed in patients with a high probability of postoperative pancreatic fistula. However, the two groups demonstrated no significant difference in the occurrence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (10.6% vs. 9.5%, p = .532). Among periampullary cancer cases, RAPD demonstrated comparable survival outcomes to open PD after PSM (5-year survival rate: 61.8% vs. 49.8%, p = .189).

RAPD has become a stable approach, accounting for over 50% of all PD cases in high-volume centers, and it can be safely performed. However, open PD remains important owing to the development of neoadjuvant therapy and the aging population. Therefore, establishing appropriate indications to maximize the benefits of both RAPD and open PD is necessary.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) arise from neuroendocrine cells and are a rare class of heterogenous tumors with increasing incidence. The diagnosis, staging, treatment, and prognosis of PNETs depend heavily on identifying the histologic features and biological mechanisms. Here, the authors provide an overview of the diagnostic workup (biomarkers and imaging), grade, and staging of PNETs. The authors also explore associated genetic mutations and molecular pathways and describe updated guidelines on surgical and systemic treatment modalities.

Robotic surgery is increasingly utilized in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery, but the learning curve is a substantial obstacle hindering implementation. Comprehensive robotic training can help to surmount this obstacle; however, despite the expansion of robotic training into residency and fellowship programs, limited data are available about how this translates into successful incorporation in faculty practice. All operations performed during the first three years of practice of a surgical oncologist at a tertiary care academic institution were retrospectively reviewed. The surgeon underwent comprehensive robotic training during residency and fellowship. 137 HPB operations were performed during the initial three years of practice. Over 80% were performed robotically each year across a spectrum of HPB procedures with a 6% conversion rate. Median operative time, a metric for operative proficiency and evaluation for a learning curve, was similar throughout the study period for each major operation and below several reported optimized operative time benchmarks. The major complications, defined as a Clavien-Dindo of 3 or more, were similar across the experience and comparable to published series. Comprehensive robotic training in residency and fellowship as well as a dedicated, well-trained operative team allows for early attainment of optimized outcomes in a new HPB robotic practice.

Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) represent a rare subset of pancreatic cancer. Functional tumors cause hormonal changes and clinical syndromes, while non-functional ones are often diagnosed late. Surgical management needs multidisciplinary planning, involving enucleation, distal pancreatectomy with or without spleen preservation, central pancreatectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy. Minimally invasive approaches have increased in the last decade compared to the open technique. The aim of this study was to analyze the current diagnostic and surgical trends for pNETs, to identify better interventions and their outcomes. Methods: The study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines, conducting a systematic review of the literature from May 2008 to March 2022 across multiple databases. Several combinations of keywords were used ("NET", "pancreatic", "surgery", "laparoscopic", "minimally invasive", "robotic", "enucleation", "parenchyma sparing") and relevant article references were manually checked. The manuscript quality was evaluated. Results: The study screened 3867 manuscripts and twelve studies were selected, primarily from Italy, the United States, and China. A total of 7767 surgically treated patients were collected from 160 included centers. The mean age was 56.3 y.o. Enucleation (EN) and distal pancreatectomy (DP) were the most commonly performed surgeries and represented 43.4% and 38.6% of the total interventions, respectively. Pancreatic fistulae, postoperative bleeding, re-operation, and follow-up were recorded and analyzed. Conclusions: Enucleation shows better postoperative outcomes and lower mortality rates compared to pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or distal pancreatectomy (DP), despite the similar risks of postoperative pancreatic fistulae (POPF). DP is preferred over enucleation for the pancreas body-tail, while laparoscopic enucleation is better for head pNETs.

To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of robot-assisted resection and open surgery for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase databases for studies comparing treatment for CCA, covering the period from database inception to January 30, 2024. Two researchers will independently screen literature and extract data, followed by meta-analysis using Review Manager 5.3 software. A total of 5 articles with 513 patients were finally included. Among them, 231 in the robotic group, and 282 in the open group. The Meta-analysis revealed that the robotic group had a significant advantage in terms of intraoperative blood loss (MD =  - 101.44, 95% CI - 135.73 to - 67.15, P < 0.05), lymph node harvest(MD = 1.03, 95% CI 0.30- 1.76, P < 0.05) and length of hospital stay(MD =  - 1.92, 95% CI - 2.87 to- 0.97, P < 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of transfusion rate (OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.31-1.23, P > 0.05), R0 resection (OR = 1.49, 95% CI 0.89- 2.50, P > 0.05), 30-day mortality (OR = 1.68, 95% CI 0.43-6.65, P > 0.05) and complications (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.30- 1.95, P > 0.05). Robotic-assisted radical resection for CCA is feasible and safe, and its long-term efficacy and oncological outcomes need to be confirmed by further studies.

Minimally invasive surgery provides an unprecedented opportunity to review video for assessing surgical performance. Surgical video analysis is time-consuming and expensive. Deep learning provides an alternative for analysis. Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) is a complex and morbid operation. Surgeon technical performance of pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) has been associated with postoperative pancreatic fistula. In this work, we aimed to utilize deep learning to automatically segment PJ RPD videos.

This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected videos from 2011 to 2022 that were in libraries at tertiary referral centers, including 111 PJ videos. Each frame of a robotic PJ video was categorized based on 6 tasks. A 3D convolutional neural network was trained for frame-level visual feature extraction and classification. All the videos were manually annotated for the start and end of each task.

Of the 100 videos assessed, 60 videos were used for the training the model, 10 for hyperparameter optimization, and 30 for the testing of performance. All the frames were extracted (6 frames/second) and annotated. The accuracy and mean per-class F1 scores were 88.01% and 85.34% for tasks.

The deep learning model performed well for automated segmentation of PJ videos. Future work will focus on skills assessment and outcome prediction.

Minimally invasive Pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD), or the Whipple procedure, is increasingly utilized. No study has compared laparoscopic (LPD) and robotic (RPD) approaches, and the impact of the learning curve on oncologic, technical, and post-operative outcomes remains relatively understudied.

The National Cancer Database was queried for patients undergoing LPD or RPD from 2010 to 2020 with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Outcomes were compared between approaches using propensity-score matching (PSM); the impact of annual center-level volume of MIPD was also assessed by dividing volume into quartiles.

A total of 3,342 patients were included. Most (n = 2,716, 81.3%) underwent LPD versus RPD (n = 626, 18.7%). There was a high rate (20.2%, n = 719) of positive margins. Mean length-of-stay (LOS) was 10.4 ± 8.9 days. Thirty-day mortality was 2.8% (n = 92) and ninety-day mortality was 5.7% (n = 189). PSM matched 625 pairs of patients receiving LPD or RPD. After PSM, there was no differences between groups based on age, sex, race, CCI, T-stage, neoadjuvant chemo/radiotherapy, or type of PD. After PSM, there was a higher rate of conversion to open (HR = 0.68, 95%CI = 0.50-0.92)., but there was no difference in LOS (HR = 1.00, 95%CI = 0.92-1.11), 30-day readmission (HR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.68-1.71), 30-day (HR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.39-1.56) or 90-day mortality (HR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.42-1.16), ability to receive adjuvant therapy (HR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.92-1.44), nodal harvest (HR = 1.01, 95%CI = 0.94-1.09) or positive margins (HR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.89-1.59). Centers in lower quartiles of annual volume of MIPD demonstrated reduced nodal harvest (p = 0.005) and a higher rate of conversion to open (p = 0.038). Higher-volume centers had a shorter LOS (p = 0.012), higher rate of initiation of adjuvant therapy (p = 0.042), and, most strikingly, a reduction in 90-day mortality (p = 0.033).

LPD and RPD have similar surgical and oncologic outcomes, with a lower rate of conversion to open in the robotic cohort. The robotic technique does not appear to eliminate the "learning curve", with higher volume centers demonstrating improved outcomes, especially seen at minimum annual volume of 5 cases.

Robotic surgery is increasingly utilized in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery, but the learning curve is a substantial obstacle hindering implementation. Comprehensive robotic training can help to surmount this obstacle; however, despite the expansion of robotic training into residency and fellowship programs, limited data is available about how this translates into successful incorporation in faculty practice.

All operations performed during the first three years of practice of a complex general surgical oncology-trained surgical oncologist at a tertiary care academic institution were retrospectively reviewed. The surgeon underwent comprehensive robotic training during residency and fellowship.

137 HPB operations were performed during the initial three years of practice. Over 80% were performed robotically each year across a spectrum of HPB procedures with a 6% conversion rate. Median operative time, the optimal metric for operative proficiency and evaluation for a learning curve, was similar throughout the study period for each major operation and below several reported optimized operative times. Major complications were similar across the experience and comparable to published series.

Comprehensive robotic training in residency and fellowship as well as a dedicated, well-trained operative team allows for early attainment of optimized outcomes in a new HPB robotic practice.

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy has been found safe and associated with advantages over open pancreaticoduodenectomy in prior studies. We compared outcomes of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy at a single institution after applying technical aspects and perioperative care learned from laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy to the open pancreaticoduodenectomy practice.

From January 2010 to December 2020, all patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy were identified, and information was collected in a prospective fashion. Open pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 347) and laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 242) were performed using the same selection criteria, operative technique, and recovery protocols at a single institution. Propensity score matching was performed, and then perioperative data and 90-day outcomes were compared, and statistical analysis was performed.

A total of 589 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, including open pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 347) and laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 242). After excluding those undergoing total pancreatectomy or major vascular or concomitant organ resection, there were 497 patients (open pancreaticoduodenectomy = 301 and laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy = 196). Propensity score matching was performed, and 187 open pancreaticoduodenectomy patients were matched to 187 laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy patients. Operative time (475 vs 280 minutes) was longer, and estimated blood loss (150 vs 212 mL) was less for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy than open pancreaticoduodenectomy, respectively. Pancreatic fistula (18.8% vs 5.4%) and delayed gastric emptying (18.8% vs 9.7%) were higher for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy than open pancreaticoduodenectomy, respectively. Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage, major morbidity, mortality, hospital stay, and readmissions were nonsignificantly higher for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy than open pancreaticoduodenectomy. Intensive care use and overall costs were significantly higher for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy than open pancreaticoduodenectomy.

In our experience, open pancreaticoduodenectomy offers similar to improved outcomes over laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, with less use of perioperative resources, thereby offering better value to patients requiring pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease, and multimodal treatment including high-quality surgery can improve survival outcomes. Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has evolved with minimally invasive approaches including the implementation of robotic PD (RPD). In this special report, we review the literature whilst evaluating the 'true benefits' of RPD compared to open approach for the treatment of PDAC.

We have performed a mini-review of studies assessing PD approaches and compared intraoperative characteristics, perioperative outcomes, post-operative complications and oncological outcomes.

RPD was associated with similar or longer operative times, and reduced intra-operative blood loss. Perioperative pain scores were significantly lower with shorter lengths of stay with the robotic approach. With regards to post-operative complications, post-operative pancreatic fistula rates were similar, with lower rates of clinically relevant fistulas after RPD. Oncological outcomes were comparable or superior in terms of margin status, lymph node harvest, time to chemotherapy and survival between RPD and OPD. In conclusion, RPD allows safe implementation of minimally invasive PD. The current literature shows that RPD is either equivalent, or superior in certain aspects to OPD. Once more centers gain sufficient experience, RPD is likely to demonstrate clear superiority over alternative approaches.

(1) Background: This study comprehensively compared robotic pancreatic surgery with vascular resection (RPS-VR) to other surgical procedures in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). (2) Methods: A systematic review of relevant literature was conducted to assess a range of crucial surgical and oncological outcomes. (3) Results: Findings indicate that robotic surgery with vascular resections (VRs) significantly prolongs the duration of surgery compared to other surgical procedures, and they notably demonstrate an equal hospital stay. While some studies reported a lower conversion rate and a higher rate of blood loss and blood transfusion in the RPS-VR group, others found no significant disparity. Furthermore, RPS-VR consistently correlated with comparable recurrence rates, free margins R0, postoperative mortality, and complication rates. Concerning the last one, certain reviews reported a higher rate of major complications. Overall survival and disease-free survival remained comparable between the RPS-VR and other surgical techniques in treating PDAC. (4) Conclusions: The analysis emphasizes how RPS-VR is a resembling approach in terms of surgical outcomes and aligns with existing literature findings in this field.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a complex procedure and easily accompanied by healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This study aimed to assess the impact of PBD on postoperative infections and clinical outcomes in PD patients.

The retrospective cohort study were conducted in a tertiary hospital from January 2013 to December 2022. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected from HAIs surveillance system and analyzed.

Among 2842 patients who underwent PD, 247 (8.7%) were diagnosed with HAIs, with surgical site infection being the most frequent type (n = 177, 71.7%). A total of 369 pathogenic strains were detected, with Klebsiella pneumoniae having the highest proportion, followed by Enterococcu and Escherichia coli. Although no significant association were observed generally between PBD and postoperative HAIs, subgroup analysis revealed that PBD was associated with postoperative HAIs in patients undergoing robotic PD (aRR = 2.174; 95% CI:1.011-4.674; P = 0.047). Prolonging the interval between PBD and PD could reduce postoperative HAIs in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (≥4 week: aRR = 0.292, 95% CI 0.100-0.853; P = 0.024) and robotic PD (≤2 week: aRR = 3.058, 95% CI 1.178-7.940; P = 0.022). PBD was also found to increase transfer of patients to ICU (aRR = 1.351; 95% CI 1.119-1.632; P = 0.002), extended length of stay (P < 0.001) and postoperative length of stay (P = 0.004).

PBD does not exhibit a significant association with postoperative HAIs or other outcomes. However, the implementation of robotic PD, along with a suitable extension of the interval between PBD and PD, appear to confer advantages concerning patients' physiological recuperation. These observations suggest potential strategies that may contribute to enhanced patient outcomes.

Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) has a learning curve of approximately 30-250 cases to reach proficiency. The learning curve for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) at Duke University was previously defined as 50 cases. This study describes the RPD learning curve for a single surgeon following experience with LPD. LPD and RPD were retrospectively analyzed. Continuous pathologic and perioperative metrics were compared and learning curve were defined with respect to operative time using CUSUM analysis. Seventeen LPD and 69 RPD were analyzed LPD had an inverted learning curve possibly accounting for proficiency attained during the surgeon's fellowship and acquisition of new skills coinciding with more complex patient selection. The learning curve for RPD had three phases: accelerated early experience (cases 1-10), skill consolidation (cases 11-40), and improvement (cases 41-69), marked by reduction in operative time. Compared to LPD, RPD had shorter operative time (379 vs 479 min, p < 0.005), less EBL (250 vs 500, p < 0.02), and similar R0 resection. RPD also had improved LOS (7 vs 10 days, p < 0.007), and lower rates of surgical site infection (10% vs 47%, p < 0.002), DGE (19% vs 47%, p < 0.03), and readmission (13% vs 41%, p < 0.02). Experience in LPD may shorten the learning curve for RPD. The gap in surgical quality and perioperative outcomes between LPD and RPD will likely widen as exposure to robotics in General Surgery, Hepatopancreaticobiliary, and Surgical Oncology training programs increase.

Laparoscopic surgery is performed worldwide and has clear economic and social benefits in terms of patient recovery time. It is used for most gastrointestinal surgical procedures, but laparoscopic surgery for more complex procedures in the esophageal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic regions remains challenging. Minimally invasive surgery that results in accurate tumor dissection is vital in surgical oncology, and development of surgical systems and instruments plays a key role in assisting surgeons to achieve this. A notable advance in the latter half of the 1990s was the da Vinci Surgical System, which involves master-slave surgical support robots. Featuring high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) imaging with magnification capabilities and forceps with multi-joint function, anti-shake function, and motion scaling, the system compensates for the drawbacks of conventional laparoscopic surgery. It is expected to be particularly useful in the field of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery, which requires delicate reconstruction involving complex liver anatomy with diverse vascular and biliary systems and anastomosis of the biliary tract, pancreas, and intestines. The learning curve is said to be short, and it is hoped that robotic surgery will be standardized in the near future. There is also a need for a standardized robotic surgery training system for young surgeons that can later be adapted to a wider range of surgeries. This systematic review describes trends and future prospects for robotic surgery in the hepatobiliary-pancreatic region.

Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) is a safe and efficacious procedure in appropriately selected patients, though frequently with increased operative times compared to open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD).

From 2014 to 2019, patients who underwent elective, low-risk, RPDs and OPDs in the NSQIP database were isolated. The operative time threshold (OTT) for safety in RPD patients was estimated by identifying the operative time at which complication rates for RPD patients exceeded the complication rate of the benchmark OPD control.

Of 6270 patients identified, 939 (15%) underwent RPD and 5331 (85%) underwent OPD. The incidence of major morbidity or mortality for the OPD cohort was 35.1%. The OTT was identified as 7.7 h. Patients whose RPDs were above the OTT experienced a higher incidence of major morbidity (42.5% vs. 35.0%, p < 0.01) and 30-day mortality (2.7% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.03) than the OPD cohort. Preoperative obstructive jaundice (OR: 1.47, [95% CI: 1.08-2.01]) and pancreatic duct size <3 mm (OR: 2.44, [95% CI: 1.47-4.06]) and 3-6 mm (OR: 2.15, [95% CI: 1.31-3.52]) were risk factors for prolonged RPDs on multivariable regression.

The operative time threshold for safety, identified at 7.7 h, should be used to improve patient selection for RPDs and as a competency-based quality benchmark.

Although prior studies have discussed learning curves (LC) of robotic-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD), a recognized definition is lacking. This study analyzed the clinical outcomes of 85 consecutive RPD cases performed by a single surgeon to evaluate the safety and learning curve of RPD using the da Vinci Xi robotic system. There were 51 male and 34 female patients, with a median age of 64 (20-87) years. The average preoperative body weight and BMI were 64.15 ± 11.43 kg and 23.36 ± 3.33 kg/m2, respectively. The clinical outcomes of each patient were analyzed using the textbook outcome(TO), and the learning curve of the RPD was evaluated by calculating the TO rate of patients using the cumulative sum analysis method (CUSUM).The operation time (OT) was 288.92 ± 44.41 min, and the postoperative hospital stay was 10 (1-134) days. In total, 23.52% (20/85), 5.88% (5/85), 2.35% (2/85), and 5.9% (5/85) experienced grade IIIa, IIIb, IV, and V complications. A total of 46 patients achieved TO outcomes (TO group), while 39 did not (non-TO group). The smoking rate in the TO group was lower (P < 0.05) and the albumin level was higher (P < 0.05) than that in the non-TO group. The TO rate became positive after the 56th case, all patients were divided into a learning improvement group (56 cases) and a proficient group (29 cases). The total bilirubin level in the learning improvement group was lower (P < 0.05) and the bleeding volume was higher (P < 0.05).RPD is safe and effective for carefully selected patients. The learning curve was completed after 56 patients.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a highly lethal malignancy with a minority of patients eligible for curative-intent surgical intervention. Pancreatic resections are technically demanding operations associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Minimally invasive pancreatic resections (MIPRs), which include laparoscopic and robotic approaches, may enhance postoperative outcomes by lessening physiological impact of open surgery. A limited number of randomized-controlled trials as well as numerous retrospective reports have focused on MIPR outcomes and role in management of a variety of tumors, including PDAC. Today, MIPRs are generally considered acceptable alternatives to open surgery as a trend towards improved short-term metrics is observed. However, several questions remain regarding the oncological adequacy of MIPR's as long-term experience is less extensive compared to open techniques. This review aims to summarize existing evidence on MIPRs with a focus on PDAC.

Robotic operations as a further development of conventional laparoscopic surgery have been introduced for nearly all interventions in visceral surgery during the last decade. They also currently have a high importance and acceptance in pancreatic surgery despite a relevant learning curve and high associated costs. Standard procedures, such as robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP) and partial pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD) are most frequently performed, whereas extended resections, e.g., vascular reconstructions of the portal vein, are still limited to a small number of centers worldwide. Potential advantages of robotic pancreatic surgery compared to open surgery include, in particular, less blood loss and a faster postoperative recovery of the patients leading to a shorter hospital stay. Compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery, robotic approaches offer advantages with respect to better visualization and three-dimensional dexterity of the instruments; however, the currently published literature comprises only retrospective or prospective observational studies and randomized controlled results are not yet available but first study results in this respect are expected within the next 2-3 years.

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) has gained popularity as an alternative to open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD), but comparative outcomes remain debated. The objective is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing LPD and OPD on operative time, oncologic outcomes, bleeding, morbidity, and mortality. The inclusion criteria were comparative studies on LPD vs. OPD. Outcomes were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. A total of 27 studies were included, and LPD had a substantially longer operative duration compared to the OPD procedure, with a mean increase of 56 minutes, but blood loss was reduced by an average of 123 mL in patients who underwent LPD. Morbidity, mortality, margin status, and lymph node yields were similar between LPD and OPD. This study found comparable oncologic outcomes between LPD and OPD. LPD appears safe but requires longer operative time. High-quality randomized trials are still needed.

Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy in ampullary cancer has never been studied. This study aimed to clarify the feasibility and justification of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy in ampullary cancer in terms of surgical risks, and oncologic and survival outcomes.

A propensity score-matching comparison of robotic and open pancreaticoduodenectomy based on seven factors commonly used to predict the survival outcomes in ampullary cancer patients.

A total of 147 patients were enrolled, of which 101 and 46 underwent robotic and open pancreaticoduodenectomies, respectively. After propensity score-matching with a 2:1 ratio, 88 and 44 patients in the robotic and open pancreaticoduodenectomy groups were included. The operation time was of no significant difference after matching. The median intraoperative blood loss was much less in those who underwent robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy, both before (median, 120 vs. 320 c.c. P < 0.001) and after (100 vs. 335 mL P < 0.001) score-matching. There were no significant differences in terms of surgical risks, including surgical mortality, surgical morbidity, Clavien-Dindo severity classification, postoperative pancreatic fistula, delayed gastric emptying, post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage, chyle leak, bile leak, and wound infection, both before or after score-matching. The survival outcomes were also similar between the two groups, regardless of matching.

Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy for ampullary cancer is not only technically feasible and safe without increasing surgical risks, but also oncologically justifiable without compromising surgical radicality and survival outcomes.

We evaluated the outcomes of a robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) program implemented at a community tertiary care hospital.

A retrospective review of 65 RPD cases compared surgical outcomes and performance to benchmark data.

Postoperative complications occurred in 31% (20) of patients vs. ≤73% (variance -42), with grade IV complications in 3% (2) vs. ≤5% (variance -2). Postoperative pancreatic fistula type B frequency was 12% (8) vs. ≤15% (variance -3). One 90-day mortality occurred (1.5% vs. 1.6%). Failure to rescue rate was 7% vs. ≤9% (variance -2), and R1 resection rate was 2% vs. ≤39% (variance -37). There was a downward trend of operative time (rho ​= ​-0.600, P ​< ​0.001), with a learning curve of 27 cases. Median hospital length of stay was 6 days vs. ≤15 days (variance -9).

Our comprehensive RPD training program resulted in improved operative performance and outcomes commensurate with benchmark thresholds.