Robotic Whipple for pancreatic ductal and ampullary adenocarcinoma: 10 years experience of aUSsingle-center

BACKGROUND There is currently ample consensus about the safety and feasibility of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD). However, few studies are available on the long-term oncological outcomes of this procedure. We present a long-term survival analysis (up to 10 years) of our series of RPD carried out for ductal and ampullary adenocarcinoma. METHODS A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected approved database was carried out including 39 patients who underwent RPD for pancreatic ductal and ampullary adenocarcinomas. RESULTS The 5-year overall survival for ductal and ampullary carcinoma was 41% with an estimated median and mean survival of 27 and 52 months. The ampullary group had significantly longer 5-year survival (68%) than the ductal group (30%). CONCLUSION Our data show, within the limitations of their retrospective nature, that robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy provides similar short- and long-term survival outcomes compared to open technique in the treatment of pancreatic ductal and ampullary adenocarcinoma.