title: Robotic spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: a single-centered Chinese experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy is technically challenging. New surgical robotic systems are now available and show promising outcomes but were very recently implemented in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven patients underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy using the da Vinci Robotic System (RDP) for benign or borderline malignant pancreatic tumors. Spleen preservation rate, blood loss, and operative complications were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 44.6 ± 13.7 years. Surgery was uneventful in all patients, without conversion to laparotomy. The surgical time (including anesthesia induction, robot docking, operation, and postoperative awaking time) was 460 ± 154 min, while the operation time was 368 ± 126 min. Blood losses were 200 ± 110 mL. The minor (Clavien I+II) complication rate was 14.3%, and the major (Clavien III+IV) complication rate was 14.3 %, including hemorrhage and pancreatic leakage. The spleen preservation rate was 100%. All complications were successfully managed and cured. Intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound examination successfully identified the correct surgical resection margins. Mean postoperative hospitalization was 8.7 ± 6.6 days. No patient had to undergo a second pancreas surgery. Patients were followed up for a median of 6.8 months (range, 6 to 22 months). All patients survived and reported few discomforts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RDP is feasible and allows the preservation of the splenic vessels.
authors.affiliation: Hepatobiliary Department, PLA General Hospital of China, Beijing, 100853, China. gdwk301@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Hepatobiliary Department, PLA General Hospital of China, Beijing, 100853, China. Jiwenbin1999@126.com.
authors.forename: Wen-Bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Hepatobiliary Department, PLA General Hospital of China, Beijing, 100853, China. Wanghongguang301@yahoo.cn.
authors.forename: Hong-Guang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Hepatobiliary Department, PLA General Hospital of China, Beijing, 100853, China. luoyingly@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Hepatobiliary Department, PLA General Hospital of China, Beijing, 100853, China. xqwang1017@qq.com.
authors.forename: Xian-Qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Hepatobiliary Department, PLA General Hospital of China, Beijing, 100853, China. Shaocheng0502@163.com.
authors.forename: Shao-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Hepatobiliary Department, PLA General Hospital of China, Beijing, 100853, China. djh20150603@126.com.
authors.forename: Jia-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments / Q000379:methods*; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures