Impact of Obesity on Perioperative Outcomes in Robotic Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Propensity Score‐Matched Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to assess the impact of obesity on the perioperative outcomes in robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD), rarely documented. METHODS: A total of 886 patients undergoing RPD or open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) were enroled. These patients were categorised into the obese RPD, non-obese RPD and obese OPD groups. RESULTS: Operation time was longer in obese RPD compared with non-obese RPD and obese OPD (median: 9.5 vs. 7.5 and 8.0 h). Blood loss was lower in both RPD groups than in the obese OPD group (median: 200 and 120 vs. 500 c.c.). Surgical mortality and morbidity were comparable between these three groups. Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) occurred less frequently in both RPD groups than obese OPD (7.5% and 4.4% vs. 19.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity does not exert a negative impact on the perioperative outcomes in RPD, except for longer operation times. RPD has emerged as a safe and viable surgical approach for obese patients.