Robotic-assisted versus open distal pancreatectomy for benign and low-grade malignant pancreatic tumors: a propensity score-matched study

Background This study aimed to compare the short-term outcomes of open and robotic-assisted distal pancreatectomy (ODP and RDP) for benign and low-grade malignant tumors. Methods The patients who underwent RDP and ODP for benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic tumors at our center were included. After PSM at a 1:1 ratio, the perioperative variations in the two cohorts were compared. Results After 1:1 PSM, 219 cases of RDP and ODP were recorded. The RDP cohort showed advantages in the operative duration [120 (90-150) min vs 175 (130-210) min,P < 0.001], estimated blood loss [50 (30-175) ml vs 200 (100-300) ml,P < 0.001], spleen preservation rate (63.5% vs 26.5%,P < 0.001), infection rate (4.6% vs 12.3%,P = 0.006), and gastrointestinal function recovery [3 (2-4) vs. 3 (3-5),P = 0.019]. There were no significant differences in postoperative pancreatic fistula, postoperative hemorrhage, and delayed gastric emptying. Multivariate analysis showed that RDP (HR 0.24; 95% CI 0.16-0.36,P < 0.001), age (HR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00-1.03,P = 0.033), tumor size (HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.17-1.40,P < 0.001), pathological inflammatory neoplasm type (HR 5.12; 95% CI 2.22-11.81,P < 0.001), and estimated blood loss (HR 1.003; 95% CI 1.001-1.004,P < 0.001) were independent predictors of spleen preservation; RDP (HR 0.27; 95% CI 0.17-0.43,P < 0.001), age (HR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00-1.03,P = 0.022), elevated CA 19-9 level (HR 2.55; 95% CI 1.02-6.39,P = 0.046), tumor size (HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.29-1.61,P < 0.001), pathological inflammatory neoplasm type (HR 4.48; 95% CI 1.69-11.85,P = 0.003), and estimated blood loss (HR 1.003; 95% CI 1.001-1.004,P < 0.001) were independent predictors of spleen preservation with the Kimura technique. Conclusion RDP has advantages in the operative time, blood loss, spleen preservation, infection rate, and gastrointestinal function recovery over ODP in treating benign and low-grade malignant pancreatic tumors. The robotic-assisted approach was an independent predictor of spleen preservation and use of the Kimura technique.

Automated summary

Robotic-assisted distal pancreatectomy has advantages in operative time, blood loss, spleen preservation, infection rate, and gastrointestinal function recovery over open distal pancreatectomy for treating benign and low-grade malignant pancreatic tumors.