About

Ulrich F. Wellner is a leading pancreatic surgeon and clinical researcher whose work has fundamentally shaped the global understanding of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery. His research focuses on comparative surgical oncology, operative technique optimization, and outcomes assessment in complex pancreatic procedures, including distal pancreatectomy and pancreatoduodenectomy. Wellner has played a central role in large-scale multinational studies that have rigorously evaluated laparoscopic, robotic, and open approaches to pancreatic resection, addressing critical questions about oncological safety, perioperative outcomes, and fistula risk. His landmark DIPLOMA trial — published in both cohort (2017, 280 citations) and randomized forms (2023) — provided the field with pivotal evidence supporting the non-inferiority of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. His contributions to fistula risk scoring, including the widely adopted updated alternative Fistula Risk Score (2019, 195 citations), have improved preoperative risk stratification across European centers. Wellner has also advanced the understanding of surgical learning curves, helping institutions implement complex minimally invasive techniques more safely. Collectively, his body of work — accumulating over 1,000 citations — has meaningfully influenced international surgical guidelines and training standards.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

13
H-Index
26
Papers
1,195
Total Citations
46
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
Minimally Invasive versus Open Distal Pancreatectomy for Ductal Adenocarcinoma (DIPLOMA)
280 citations · 2017
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2021 (5 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 336
🏛 Institutions: Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Universitäres Kinderwunschzentrum Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, IRCCS Azienda Ospedliero-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico di Sant'Orsola, University of Lübeck

Top Papers

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
    Robotic Distal Pancreatectomy
    76 citations · 2022
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 14 days ago