Robotic surgery is safe and accurate in removing of pancreatic tumors
Robotic surgery is safe and accurate in removing
of pancreatic tumors
- A research team led
by Professor Jin-young Jang (SNUH) integrated the benefits of 'laparoscopic
and robotic surgery.' 
A
new era of robotic surgery in biliary tract and pancreatic surgery has begun
in Korea. Such advancement in this field is made possible by the delicate anastomosis
of pancreatic or bile ducts to the small intestine utilizing robotic platforms.
Robotic surgical technology has risen to world standards in Korea.
Professor
Jin-Young Jang of the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Seoul
National University Hospital (SNUH) was invited at The 2nd Asian Congress of
Robotic Surgery and the 2016 KSELS international Symposium to announce his success
in performing robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy which integrates the benefits
of both laparoscopic and robotic surgery for the first time in Korea. Also,
he reported that compared to open surgery, robotic surgery offers reduced hospital
stay, postoperative pain and complications thereby helping rapid recovery.
Although
laparoscopic surgery is widespread and generally performed for various abdominal
disease due to rapid recovery and better cosmetic outcomes, it’s use is highly
limited in biliary tract and pancreatic tumors due to complicated anatomy and
sophisticated surgery. Laparoscopic surgery was applicable only to pancreatic
body and tail tumors until now. Performing laparoscopic surgery in pancreatic
head tumors is strenous because delicately connecting the 1-2mm sized small
pancreatic duct to the small intestine is highly demanding.
Professor
Jin-Young Jang’s research team has devised a hybrid method that integrates
the advantages of both laparoscopic and robotic surgery based on long, accumulated
experience. Laparoscopic surgery is performed to allow for a wider range of
motion, faster movement and wider variety of instruments that allows better
dissection and easy access in various angles around the complex anatomy. After
resection, robotic surgery is performed to anastomose the very small pancreatic
duct and bile duct to the small intestine. The robotic platforma allows a high-definition
3D vision that allows a more than 10 times magnified view compared to the naked
eyes allowing delicate anastomosis.
“Similar radical resections along
with delicate anastomosis can be performed in robotic surgery compared to open
surgery. Anastomosis utilizing the robotic platform is far more accurate and
safe than the laparoscopic counterpart thereby maintaining pancreatic function
which is essential is improving quality of life. Therefore, robotic surgery
maintains radicality and allows for faster recovery, better cosmetic outcomes,
shorter hospital stay and lesser pain all at the same time,” says Professor
Jin-Young Jang.
With such tremendous breakthrough in robotic surgery
in Korea, further expanded utilization in complicated and sophisticated surgeries
is expected in the near future.