NMF
  • Menu Canvas
    • NMF
      • Nikki Mitchell Foundation
      • Nikki Mitchell
        • Bridge of Wings Flight
        • Documentary
      • Financials and Board
      • Contact Us
    • Programs
      • Bridge of Wings
      • Hope Suite Hope
    • Pancreatic Cancer
      • Statistics & Risk Factors
      • Research & Detection
        • Seed Grant Awardees
    • Inspiration
      • Volunteers
      • Warriors
    • Events
      • Previous Event Photos
    • News
    • Donate
    • NMF
      • Nikki Mitchell Foundation
      • Financials and Board
      • Nikki Mitchell
      • Contact
    • Pancreatic Cancer
      • Statistics & Risk Factors
      • Research & Detection
    • Programs
      • Bridge of Wings
      • Hope Suite Hope
    • Inspiration
      • Warriors
      • Volunteers
    • Events
    • News
NMF
  • NMF
    • Nikki Mitchell Foundation
    • Nikki Mitchell
      • Bridge of Wings Flight
      • Documentary
    • Financials and Board
    • Contact Us
  • Programs
    • Bridge of Wings
    • Hope Suite Hope
  • Pancreatic Cancer
    • Statistics & Risk Factors
    • Research & Detection
      • Seed Grant Awardees
  • Inspiration
    • Volunteers
    • Warriors
  • Events
    • Previous Event Photos
  • News
  • Donate

Safety of Robotic Whipples

Safety of Robotic Whipples

Christa Bowles
April 30, 2019
Blog

 

Above is a photo of the da Vinci Surgical System. Not seen, is the surgeon’s console station. At the console, the surgeon sits aside the robot and can manipulate the robot’s arms to perform the surgery. Whereas a surgeon only has two arms, the robot seen above has four. These additional arms give the surgeon more options during the surgery.
Image credit: https://www.intuitive.com

The following summary comes from Emanuele F. Kauffmann, MD and colleagues, and was recently published in Surgical Endoscopy in January 2019.

Link to article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00464-018-6301-2

Over the recent decades, improvements in preoperative management and introduction of new surgical techniques has seen a substantially declined the morbidity (rate of complications) associated with pancreatic surgery. Among these, the most intriguing innovations has been the introduction of the surgical robot as a tool to assist the surgeon. When using this platform, surgeons may enjoy increased control, a 3-D view of the abdomen, and greater magnification of the surgical field, while minimizing the length of required incisions. In this article, the authors sought to evaluate the outcomes of robotic pancreatic oduodenectomy (also known as the Whipple procedure) as compared to its classic open counterpart. The authors chose to evaluate immediate oncological outcomes including resection margin status (see our August blog post on resection margins for more information). Additionally, they evaluated long-term patient outcomes including recurrence of disease and overall survival.

In order to draw meaningful conclusions, the authors performed a propensity score match. It is a widely used statistical tool that allows us to balance groups of patients that otherwise in the real world might not be similar due to various aspects of clinical decision making. Based on features of patients in one group, patients with similar characteristics are identified from the other group that serve as a control. Once done these selected groups are compared rather than the entire patient population.

Encouragingly, there were no differences observed in the rates of negative resection margins in both groups. Additionally, the authors found that the long-term outcomes including recurrence of disease and overall survival were equivalent regardless of robotic or open surgical approach.

Take home points:

  1. Surgeons can perform the same procedure, using either techniques to achieve similar rates of tumor clearance.
  2. Patients who undergo a Whipple via either technique have similar long-term outcomes.

It is important to remember that each patient and their disease is unique. Consequently, some patients may not be ideal candidates for a robotic approach. Furthermore, surgical experience and training in using a robotic console are required to use it effectively. Therefore, it should be expected that these similar outcomes are achieved when the surgeons performing the robotic procedures are trained in the field, and are past their learning curve.

Tags: Cancer pancreas pancreatic cancer pancreatic cancer treatment
Previous Story
NMF Raises $7,000 from Annual Online Auction
Next Story
NMF Gives a $20,000 Seed Grant at the Pancreas Club Conference

Related Articles

Your Dollars at Work

Nikki Mitchell Foundation is a relatively young non-profit. In the...

2021 Impact Report

2021 was full of challenges for everyone, but the Nikki...

Recent Posts

  • Music Leader Shannan Hatch Joins Nikki Mitchell Foundation Board Wednesday, 30, Mar
  • Your Dollars at Work Thursday, 27, Jan
  • 2021 Impact Report Monday, 24, Jan
  • 2021 Nikki Mitchell Foundation Seed Grant Winner Monday, 22, Nov
  • A Surviving Story Thursday, 17, Jun

Contact Us

1-615-982-6802
PO Box 68305 Nashville, TN 37206
[email protected]
EIN Tax ID: 46-3399632

Join Our Mailing List

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Nikki Mitchell Foundation, PO Box 68305, Nashville, TN, 37206, http://www.nikkimitchellfoundation.org. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Follow Us

Contact Us

1-615-982-6802
PO Box 68305 Nashville, TN 37206
[email protected]
EIN Tax ID: 46-3399632
Copyright ©2020 Nikki Mitchell Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Nikki Mitchell Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Medical Disclaimer:
Information is solely intended as educational purpose only. It is not to be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice. We encourage all visitors to consult directly with their physician. Site visitors should not rely on any information contained for health needs. Instead, all questions should be discussed with professional medical doctors.
SearchPostsLogin
Wednesday, 30, Mar
Music Leader Shannan Hatch Joins Nikki Mitchell Foundation Board
Thursday, 27, Jan
Your Dollars at Work
Monday, 24, Jan
2021 Impact Report
Monday, 22, Nov
2021 Nikki Mitchell Foundation Seed Grant Winner
Thursday, 17, Jun
A Surviving Story
Monday, 24, May
Clinical Trials

Welcome back,