Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2025
Robotic Myotomy and Partial Fundoplication for Achalasia
Published on: August 11, 2023
Preliminary Experiences With Robot-Assisted Choledochal Cyst Excision Using the Da Vinci Surgical System in Children
Xiaolong Xie1, Yang Wu1, Kewei Li1
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Insights
Robot-assisted surgery using the da Vinci system offers a safe and feasible treatment for choledochal cysts in infants. This study shows promising outcomes for pediatric patients under one year old.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Surgical Robotics
Background:
- Choledochal cysts are congenital biliary tract malformations.
- Surgical intervention is the standard treatment for choledochal cysts.
- Minimally invasive approaches are increasingly explored for pediatric surgical conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report preliminary experiences with the da Vinci surgical system for treating choledochal cysts in infants.
- To evaluate the application and outcomes of robot-assisted surgery in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical data from children under 1 year old.
- Patients underwent surgery for choledochal cysts using the da Vinci robotic system (January 2015 - December 2020).
- Data included demographics, imaging, perioperative details, and postoperative outcomes.
Main Results:
- Ten infants (average age 8.5 months) were included.
- Common symptoms included abdominal pain, vomiting, and jaundice.
- Robot-assisted surgery showed no need for blood transfusion or conversion, with an average operation time of 219.5 minutes.
- Average recovery included a 3.28-day fluid diet, 3.76-day solid diet, and a 7.6-day hospital stay.
- All patients recovered and were discharged.
Conclusions:
- The da Vinci surgical system is a safe and feasible option for treating choledochal cysts in children under 1 year old.
- Robot-assisted surgery demonstrates positive outcomes in this specific pediatric cohort.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to introduce our preliminary experiences with using the da Vinci surgical system to treat choledochal cysts in children under 1 year old and discuss the application of this robot-assisted surgery. We retrospectively analyzed all available clinical data of children below the age of 1 who underwent surgery for choledochal cysts using the da Vinci robotic surgical system between January 2015 and December 2020. Data collection mainly included demographic information, imaging data, perioperative details, and postoperative outcomes. Ten patients were included in this study. The average patient age was 8.5 months, and the average weight was 9.11 kg. Half of these patients suffered from abdominal pain, while 30% exhibited vomiting and 10% jaundice. Eight of them were type Ia, and two were Ic. The average operation time among the patients was 219.5 min. None of the 10 patients had to receive a blood transfusion or conversion. The average time of the patients' subsequent fluid diet was 3.28 days, and the solid diet was 3.76 days. Meanwhile, the average length of hospital stay was 7.6 days. All 10 patients recovered and were eventually discharged. We believe that the da Vinci surgical system is a safe and feasible form of treatment for choledochal cysts in children <1 year old.
