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Updated: Jul 24, 2025
Robotic Enucleation of an Intra-Pancreatic Insulinoma in the Pancreatic Head
Published on: January 3, 2020
Robotic versus laparoscopic surgery for sporadic benign insulinoma: Short- and long-term outcomes
Zhu-Zeng Yin1, Yuan-Xing Gao1, Zhi-Ming Zhao1
1Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
Background:
Minimally invasive surgery is the optimal treatment for insulinoma. The present study aimed to compare short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic surgery for sporadic benign insulinoma.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic surgery for insulinoma at our center between September 2007 and December 2019 was conducted. The demographic, perioperative and postoperative follow-up results were compared between the laparoscopic and robotic groups.
Results:
A total of 85 patients were enrolled, including 36 with laparoscopic approach and 49 with robotic approach. Enucleation was the preferred surgical procedure. Fifty-nine patients (69.4%) underwent enucleation; among them, 26 and 33 patients underwent laparoscopic and robotic surgery, respectively. Robotic enucleation had a lower conversion rate to laparotomy (0 vs. 19.2%, P = 0.013), shorter operative time (102.0 vs. 145.5 min, P = 0.008) and shorter postoperative hospital stay (6.0 vs. 8.5 d, P = 0.002) than laparoscopic enucleation. There were no differences between the groups in terms of intraoperative blood loss, the rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula and complications. After a median follow-up of 65 months, two patients in the laparoscopic group developed a functional recurrence and none of the patients in the robotic group had a recurrence.
Conclusions:
Robotic enucleation can reduce the conversion rate to laparotomy and shorten operative time, which might lead to a reduction in postoperative hospital stay.
Insights
Robotic surgery for insulinoma offers improved outcomes compared to laparoscopic surgery. Robotic enucleation reduces conversion rates and operative time, potentially shortening hospital stays and recurrence rates for patients with benign insulinoma.
Area of Science:
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Surgical Oncology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Minimally invasive surgery is the standard treatment for insulinoma.
- Laparoscopic and robotic approaches are commonly used for insulinoma resection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus robotic surgery for sporadic benign insulinoma.
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of robotic enucleation for insulinoma.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 85 patients undergoing surgery for insulinoma (2007-2019).
- Comparison of demographic, perioperative, and postoperative data between laparoscopic and robotic groups.
- Focus on enucleation as the primary surgical procedure.
Main Results:
- Robotic enucleation showed a significantly lower conversion rate to laparotomy (0% vs. 19.2%) and shorter operative time (102.0 vs. 145.5 min).
- Robotic surgery resulted in a shorter postoperative hospital stay (6.0 vs. 8.5 days).
- No significant differences in intraoperative blood loss or postoperative complications; robotic group had no recurrences versus two in the laparoscopic group after 65 months median follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Robotic enucleation is associated with reduced conversion rates and operative time for insulinoma.
- These benefits may translate to shorter hospital stays and potentially lower recurrence rates.
- Robotic surgery represents a safe and effective option for insulinoma treatment.
