Innovative suture technique for robotic hepaticojejunostomy: double-layer interrupted sutures

Biliary reconstruction remains a technically demanding and complicated procedure in minimally invasive hepatopancreatobiliary surgeries. No optimal hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) technique has been demonstrated to be superior for preventing biliary complications. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of our unique technique of posterior double-layer interrupted sutures in robotic HJ.

We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database. Forty-two patients who underwent robotic pancreatoduodenectomy using this technique between September 2020 and November 2022 at our center were reviewed. In the posterior double-layer interrupted technique, sutures were placed to bite the bile duct, posterior seromuscular layer of the jejunum, and full thickness of the jejunum.

The median operative time was 410 (interquartile range [IQR], 388-478) min, and the median HJ time was 30 (IQR, 28-39) min. The median bile duct diameter was 7 (IQR, 6-10) mm. Of the 42 patients, one patient (2.4%) had grade B bile leakage. During the median follow-up of 12.6 months, one patient (2.4%) with bile leakage developed anastomotic stenosis. Perioperative mortality was not observed. A surgical video showing the posterior double-layer interrupted sutures in the robotic HJ is included.

Posterior double-layer interrupted sutures in robotic HJ provided a simple and feasible method for biliary reconstruction with a low risk of biliary complications.