Ruben H. de Kleine
Papers
4
Total Citations
114
H-Index
4
About
Ruben H. de Kleine is a leading surgical researcher whose work centers on improving outcomes for patients with pancreatic and hepatobiliary diseases, with a particular focus on minimally invasive techniques and long-term quality of life. His most impactful contributions come from landmark randomized trials comparing minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) to open surgery. As a key investigator in the LEOPARD trial (55 citations), he helped demonstrate that MIDP reduces time to functional recovery, while also rigorously evaluating cost-effectiveness and disease-specific quality of life. He is also central to the DIPLOMA trial (38 citations), which established comparable radical resection rates between minimally invasive and open left pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, with recent 2025 follow-up data (7 citations) now providing crucial evidence on long-term survival. Beyond pancreatic cancer, de Kleine has advanced the understanding of choledochal malformation surgery, advocating for systematic quality-of-life assessments in long-term follow-up (14 citations). His work is notable for its methodological rigor—using randomized controlled designs to settle debates about surgical approach—and for its patient-centered focus on functional recovery and quality of life. Through these contributions, de Kleine has helped shape modern surgical standards for pancreatic and biliary disease.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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