Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
Robotic-assisted Lateral Pancreaticojejunostomy for Chronic Pancreatitis
Published on: September 5, 2025
Robotic approach mitigates perioperative morbidity in obese patients following pancreaticoduodenectomy
Mark D Girgis1, Mazen S Zenati2, Jennifer Steve3
1UCLA, Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, 10833 LeConte Ave, 72-215 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Introduction:
The aim was to evaluate the impact of obesity on perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) compared to open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD).
Methods:
A retrospective review of all pancreaticoduodenectomies from 9/2011 to 4/2015 was performed. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2.
Results:
Of 474 pancreaticoduodenectomies performed: RPD = 213 (45%) and OPD = 261 (55%). A total of 145 (31%) patients were obese (70 RPD, 75 OPD). Obese patients had increased EBL (p = 0.03), pancreatic fistula (B&C; p = 0.077), and wound infection (p = 0.068) compared to the non-obese. For obese patients, RPD had decreased OR time (p = 0.0003), EBL (p < 0.001), and wound infection (p = 0.001) with no difference in Clavien ≥3 complications, margins, LOS or 30-day mortality compared with OPD. In multivariate analysis, obesity was the strongest predictor of Clavien ≥3 (OR 1.6; p = 0.041) and wound infection if BMI > 35 (OR 2.6; p = 0.03). The robotic approach was protective of Clavien ≥3 (OR 0.6; p = 0.03) on univariate analysis and wound infection (OR 0.3; p < 0.001) and grade B/C pancreatic fistula (OR 0.34; p < 0.001) on multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
Obese patients are at risk for increased postoperative complications regardless of approach. However, the robotic approach mitigates some of the increased complication rate, while preserving other perioperative outcomes.
