External Retraction Technique for Robotic Pancreatoduodenectomy

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery techniques have evolved remarkably over the past few decades in the field of surgical oncology, including nascent techniques for pancreatic malignancies. The emergence of the robotic surgery platform has accelerated widespread implementation of minimally invasive pancreatectomy. However, whether minimally invasive approaches can maintain the quality of oncologic surgical procedures, particularly in superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection during pancreatoduodenectomy, remains unknown. We developed external retraction techniques to mitigate the limitations of the robotic surgery platform and help maintain the quality of oncologic resection. Specifically, vessel loops encircling the superior mesenteric vein are ligated with Endoloops, and the ends of the Endoloops are carefully retracted externally on the patient’s left side. This maneuver provides critical exposure of the SMA that allows safe, high-quality oncologic dissection. We describe our external retraction techniques in the video presentation, which can improve the safety and quality of robotic pancreatoduodenectomy.