Comparison Between Minimally Invasive and Open Pancreaticoduodenectomy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive approaches (laparoscopic or robotic) are used in various operations. Our aim was to compare them with the open approach in pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS: We conducted a search for articles published in MEDLINE database comparing minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) with open pancreaticoduodenectomy on June 15, 2014. RESULTS: Our search yielded 136 articles. We excluded 122 articles and we took into consideration 14 (10 for laparoscopic and 4 for robotic pancreaticoduodenectomies). Most cases were related to malignant diseases and tumors treated with minimally invasive operations tended to be smaller. There were relatively high conversion rates in both laparoscopic (0% to 15%) and robotic procedures (4.5% to 10%). There were no significant differences regarding resection margins, rates of pancreatic fistula formation, bile leak, and delayed gastric emptying, reoperation rates, and intraoperative and postoperative mortality. On the contrary, blood loss was less in minimally invasive than open operations, although this difference was not always significant. Moreover, totally laparoscopic and robotic procedures lasted longer than the open ones, whereas hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures did not. However, the findings regarding the number of the retrieved lymph nodes, the length of hospital stay, and costs were inconclusive and controversial. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic and robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy are feasible, safe, and oncologically equivalent alternatives to open pancreaticoduodenectomy. Minimally invasive operations have the advantage of the less blood loss, but totally laparoscopic and robotic procedures last longer than open procedures.