title: Robotic distal splenopancreatectomy: bridging the gap between pancreatic and minimal access surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Almost 10 years have passed since computer-aided, most commonly known as robotic surgery, has emerged gaining slowly but steadily its place within minimally invasive surgical procedures. Nevertheless, pancreatic surgeons only recently have started incorporating it into current practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this 'how I do it' article, we describe our method for robotic distal splenopancreatectomy, focusing on its technical advantages, as well as its drawbacks. Furthermore, we describe some pitfalls commonly encountered during the procedure and we propose ways to avoid them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pancreatic robotic-assisted surgery is offering many practical advantages over the "classic" laparoscopic approach. Even though a difficult procedure to master, it may have the potential to establish the concept of minimally invasive surgery in areas where it is nonexistent as in pancreatic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Pôle des Pathologies Digestives, Hépatiques et de la Transplantation, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg-Université de Strasbourg, Avenue Molière, 67098, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ntourakis
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marzano
authors.forename: Patricia Alexandra
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lopez Penza
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bachellier
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jaeck
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pessaux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
references.citation: Am J Surg. 2003 Sep;186(3):274-8
references.pmid: 12946832
references.citation: J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2003 Feb;13(1):33-6
references.pmid: 12676019
references.citation: J Am Coll Surg. 2009 Dec;209(6):758-65; quiz 800
references.pmid: 19959046
references.citation: Surg Endosc. 2006 Nov;20(11):1729-32
references.pmid: 17024533
references.citation: Surg Endosc. 2006 Jul;20(7):1045-50
references.pmid: 16736311
references.citation: J Gastrointest Surg. 2005 May-Jun;9(5):733-8
references.pmid: 15862272
references.citation: Surg Endosc. 2010 Jul;24(7):1646-57
references.pmid: 20063016
references.citation: J Minim Access Surg. 2009 Jan;5(1):1-7
references.pmid: 19547687
references.citation: Acta Chir Belg. 2009 May-Jun;109(3):396-9
references.pmid: 19943600
references.citation: J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2009 Dec;19(6):771-5
references.pmid: 19698031
references.citation: Arch Surg. 2003 Jul;138(7):777-84
references.pmid: 12860761