Robot-assisted surgical system has been put in clinical practice for more than 20 years since its introduction at the end of last century, covering almost all surgical procedures. Robot-assisted surgery, with many advantages such as less trauma, more precision, and faster recovery, has become the procedure of choice for selective patients with benign or low-grade malignant tumors. However, despite the advantages of robotic surgery, there are still some deficiencies or controversies in its clinical application, and many problems remain to be solved. The author's center has first performed robotic-assisted surgery since 2009, and has so far completed nearly 3, 000 cases of various types of pancreatic surgery. More insights have been accumulated regarding the pancreatic diseases, patient management, surgical techniques, and hot issues related to robotic-assisted pancreatic surgery. In this paper, we focus on four current doubtful issues of robot-assisted pancreatic surgery with our practice-based viewpoints.

Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of Tumai domestic multi-port robot-assisted surgery system in the clinical application of distal pancreatectomy in pancreatic tumor patients.Methods:A prospective, single-center, single-arm exploratory study was conducted. A total of 20 patients who underwent robot-assisted pancreatic body-tail resection in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from March 2023 to November 2023 were enrolled, including 13 males and 7 females, aged (57.9±11.2) years. All the patients underwent robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy with Tumai multi-port surgical robot. Clinical data of complications, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, postoperative drainage tube retention time, and postoperative pathology were collected and statistically analyzed.Results:All the 20 patients underwent surgery successfully. Only 1 patient (5.0%) was diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (G1 stage), and the rest were benign pancreatic tumors, including serous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenoma. No instrument-related organ or blood vessel injury occurred, no intraoperative complications occurred. Of 7 patients (35.0%) had postoperative complications, including 3 infections, 3 abdominal effusion, and 1 hypokalemia. According to the Clavien-Dindo grading, all the cases were grade Ⅰ except 1 case with grade Ⅱ abdominal effusion. No serious complications above grade Ⅲ occurred. The intraoperative blood loss of the 20 patients was 100(20, 200) ml, the operative time was (125.7±76.9) min, and the postoperative retention time of drainage tube was (7.9±3.4) d.Conclusion:Tumai domestic multi-port robot-assisted surgery system has acceptable safety and efficacy in the clinical application of distal pancreatectomy.

Objective:To compare the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of Da Vinci robot and laparoscopic pancreatectomy.Methods:The data of patients with pancreatic occupying lesions who underwent distal pancreatectomy in Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University from September 2021 to January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 60 patients were enrolled, including 20 males and 40 females, aged (52.0±14.8) years. According to different operation methods, 60 patients were divided into robotic group ( n=30, Da Vinci robot-assisted pancreatectomy) and laparoscopic group ( n=30, laparoscopic pancreatectomy). The conversion of laparotomy, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, splenic preservation, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative fasting time, reoperation rate within 30 days after surgery, readmission rate within 90 days after surgery, and postoperative complications such as abdominal hemorrhage, abdominal infection and pancreatic fistula were compared between the two groups. Results:There was no conversion to laparotomy in the laparoscopic group, and 1 case (3.3%) in the robotic group. There were no significant differences in conversion to laparotomy rate, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, reoperation rate within 30 days after surgery, and readmission rate within 90 days after surgery between the two groups (all P>0.05). The spleen preservation rate of the robotic group was 53.3% (16/30), and the postoperative fasting time was 1.0(1.0, 2.0) d, which was better than that of the laparoscopic group 23.3%(7/30), 2.0(2.0, 3.0) d, with statistical significance ( χ2=5.71, Z=4.04, P=0.017, P<0.001). Postoperative abdominal infection occurred in 6 cases (20.0%), grade B or C pancreatic fistula in 7 cases (23.3%), no abdominal hemorrhage in the laparoscopic group, postoperative abdominal hemorrhage in 3 cases (10.0%), abdominal infection in 4 cases (13.3%), and grade B or C pancreatic fistula in 8 cases (26.7%) in the robotic group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative abdominal hemorrhage, abdominal infection and grade B or C pancreatic fistula between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Da Vinci robotic pancreatectomy is safe and feasible, and the success rate of spleen preservation is better than laparoscopic pancreatectomy.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of monopolar electric scissors and harmonic scalpel in Da Vinci robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy.Methods:A total of 31 patients undergoing Da Vinci robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from July 2020 to December 2023 were included. There were 9 males and 22 females, aged (54.4±15.7) years. Thirty-one patients who underwent Da Vinci robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy by monopolar electric scissors were included in the monopolar electric scissors group ( n=12), with a multi-joint flexible rotating mechanical arm to complete the dissection and separation and the other were inducled in harmonic scalpel group ( n=19). Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, spleen preservation, postoperative exhaust time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications and total hospitalization cost were compared between the two groups. Results:Postoperative pathology confirmed that among the 31 patients, there were 6 cases (19.4%) serous cystadenomas, 5 cases (16.1%) mucinous cystadenomas, 3 cases (9.7%) pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, 6 cases (19.4%) solid pseudopapilloma, 5 cases (16.1%) pancreatic cysts, and 3 (9.7%) benign cystic lesions, 3 cases (9.7%) were not easily classified. All the operations were successfully completed without conversion to laparotomy or death. There were no significant differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, splenic preservation rate, postoperative hospital stay and total hospitalization cost between the two groups (all P>0.05). The exhaust time in the monopolar electric scissors group was (2.8±0.7) d, which was shorter than that in the harmonic scalpel group (3.6±0.7) d, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-2.88, P=0.007). There was no postoperative bleeding in both groups. In the monopolar electric scissors group, there were 4 cases of postoperative complications, all of which were pancreatic fistula, including 2 cases of biochemical leakage and 2 cases of B-grade pancreatic fistula. In the harmonic scalpel group, 8 cases had postoperative complications, 7 cases of pancreatic fistula, including 3 cases of biochemical leakage, 4 cases of B-grade pancreatic fistula, and 3 cases of abdominal infection, which were cured after treatment. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups ( P=0.717). Conclusion:The application of monopolar electric scissors in Da Vinci robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy could be safe and feasible in experienced hands, which could also utilize the advantages of robot system.

Objective:To assess the impact of preoperative Naples prognostic score on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatic resection.Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 323 patients with HCC who underwent radical hepatectomy in Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from January 2012 to December 2017, including 281 males and 42 females, aged (56.6±11.3) years. All patients were divided into three groups according to their preoperative Naples prognostic scores: group A (0) ( n=37), group B (1-2) ( n=193), group C (3-4) ( n=93). Survival was analysed by the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences in survival were compared by the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to analyse the effect of Naples prognostic score on prognosis. Results:The 1-, 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates of HCC patients after hepatectomy were 91.9%, 78.4% and 68.3% in the A group, 89.1%, 76.1% and 64.4% in the B group, and 84.9%, 63.3% and 43.5% in the C group, respectively, and the cumulative survival rates showed a decreasing trend among the three groups, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The recurrence-free survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years after hepatectomy were 93.4%, 63.3% and 44.3% in the A group, 77.7%, 46.5% and 35.6% in the B group, and 64.1%, 41.1% and 28.2% in the C group, respectively, and the recurrence-free survival rates showed a decreasing trend among the three groups, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). On Cox multivariate analysis, patients with HCC of 3-4 had a higher risk of death after hepatic resection than those patients of 0 ( HR=2.011, 95% CI: 1.048-3.859, P=0.036), and the risk of postoperative recurrence was also higher than those patients of 0 ( HR=1.820, 95% CI: 1.081-3.066, P=0.024). Conclusion:Preoperative Naples prognostic score performs as a prognostic influence factor on survival and recurrence-free survival after hepatectomy in patients with HCC.

Objective:To construct a model for predicting early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after radiofrequency ablation by different machine learning models based on multimodal MRI and clinical indicators, and to evaluate the predictive efficacy of the model.Methods:The data of patients with HCC who underwent radiofrequency ablation in Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital and the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2015 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 169 patients with HCC were enrolled, including 152 males and 17 females, aged (57.2±9.2) years. The training set ( n=135) and the test set ( n=34) were randomly divided according to 8∶2. There were 49 cases recurrence in training set and 12 cases recurrence in test set. Based on the training set, the clinical influencing factors of early recurrence in patients with HCC after radiofrequency ablation were screened by univariated and multivariate logistic analysis, and the imaging features were sequentially screened by variance threshold method, select K-best and LASSO regression. Support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression and random forest (RFOREST) were used to construct the prediction models of early postoperative recurrence with simple imagomics alone or combined clinical features, respectively, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the prediction efficiency of the models. Results:Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative alpha-fetoprotein >20 μg/L, platelet count >140×10 9 and tumor location were the influential factors for early recurrence of HCC patients after radiofrequency ablation (all P<0.05). Through variance threshold analysis, select K-best and LASSO regression, 16 optimal image omics features were selected. SVM, logistic regression and RFOREST were used to construct a simple imaging omics model for predicting early recurrence of HCC patients after radiofrequency ablation. The areas under ROC curve of the test set were 0.826, 0.830 and 0.826, respectively. And the areas under ROC curve of the constructed imagomics combined clinical model of test set were 0.830, 0.830 and 0.909, respectively. The area under ROC curve of RFOREST in the test set was better than that of SVM and logistic regression ( Z=2.19, 3.98, P=0.008, 0.008). Conclusion:The combined model constructed by SVM, logistic regression and RFOREST based on clinical indicators and image omics features is effective in predicting the early recurrence of patients with HCC after radiofrequency ablation, and the model constructed by RFOREST is the best.

Objective:To establish and evaluate a clinical and ultrasound parameters-based nomogram for the preoperative differentiating diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).Methods:A total of 723 patients undergoing hepatectomy in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from January 2016 to August 2022 were retrospectively screened. A total of 399 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 198 cases) or ICC (201 cases) were enrolled in this study, including 284 males and 115 females, aged (60.5±10.5) years. Through random sampling using computer-generated random numbers, patients were divided into training ( n=279) and validation groups ( n=120) in a ratio of 7∶3. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify factors differentiating ICC, and a nomogram was established using R software based on independent risk factors for ICC. The accuracy of the nomogram was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration curves. Decision curve analysis was performed to assess the net benefit of the model. Results:Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that irregular shape, cholangiectasis, female, cirrhosis, carbohydrate antigen 242 >10 U/ml, carbohydrate antigen 125 >30 U/ml and alpha-fetoprotein >10 μg/L were independent differentiating factors for ICC (all P<0.05). A nomogram was constructed based on those factors. The nomogram showed a better discrimination between ICC and HCC. The area under the curve of the training group and the validation group were 0.966 and 0.956, respectively. The calibration curve showed that the prediction effect of the model is in good agreement with the actual situation. Decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram was more effective than diagnosing all patients as either HCC or ICC, which yielded a net benefit at the most reasonable threshold probabilities. Conclusion:The nomogram for the preoperative diagnosis of ICC based on clinical and ultrasound features showed a good diagnostic performance.

Objective:To compare the outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic one-step biliary fistulation (PTOBF) lithotripsy for type Ⅱa hepatolithiasis performed via the left or right lobe.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 79 patients with type Ⅱa hepatolithiasis treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020, including 38 males and 41 females, aged (52.9±14.0) years. All patients had received PTOBF lithotripsy in single channel and divided into left lobe group ( n=40) and right lobe group ( n=39) according to different puncture approaches. Clinical data in immediate and final stone clearance rate, operation time of lithotripsy, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications (ascites, biliary tract infection), postoperative hospitalization time, reactive pleural effusion rate, the number of lithotripsy procedures and target bile duct dilatation diameter were compared between the two groups. Results:Compared with left lobe group, right lobe group had higher immediate stone clearance [51.3%(20/39) vs 22.5%(9/40)], less lithotripsy procedures [(2.4±1.0) vs (1.9±1.0)], but had longer postoperative hospitalization time [5(3, 6)d vs 3(2, 6)d] and higher reactive pleural effusion rate [23.1%(9/39) vs 2.5%(1/40)], the differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). No significant difference was found in target bile duct dilatation diameter, final stone clearance rate, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complication rate, and operation time of lithotripsy (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared to the left lobe approach, right lobe approach could be prioritized in PTOBF lithotripsy for type Ⅱa hepatolithiasis, considering its higher immediate stone clearance and less lithotripsy procedures, but this surgical approach should pay attention to the occurrence of reactive pleural effusion.

Objective:To explore the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic local pancreatectomy in the treatment of cystic neoplasms of pancreatic head.Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted of data on patients with pancreatic head cystic neoplasms who received laparoscopic surgery at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from February 2017 to October 2022. A total of 83 patients were enrolled, including 30 males and 53 females, aged (43.7±16.7) years old. All patients were divided into an observation group ( n=55) and a control group ( n=28) based on different surgical procedures. The observation group underwent laparoscopic local pancreatectomy (laparoscopic duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection or laparoscopic enucleation), while the control group underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). The age, gender, body mass index, postoperative hospital stay, proportion of discharged patients with drainage tubes, surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion rate, and fistula were compared between two groups. Results:All patients successfully completed the surgery, and there were no cases of conversion to laparotomy or perioperative deaths. There was no statistically significant difference in age, male proportion, body mass index, postoperative hospital stay, and discharge rate with drainage tube between the two groups of patients (all P>0.05). The observation group had a surgical time of (194.4±114.0) min, intraoperative bleeding of 50 (50, 200) ml, and intraoperative blood transfusion rate of 5.5%(3/55), all of which were better than that of the control group, (380.0±71.6) min, 200 (100, 400) ml, and 32.1%(9/28), with statistical significance (all P<0.05). Among them, the B/C fistula rates in the laparoscopic local pancreatectomy group and LPD group were 12.7%(7/55) and 10.7%(3/28) ( P=0.790), respectively. Conclusion:Compared with traditional LPD, laparoscopic local pancreatectomy can shorten surgical time, reduce intraoperative bleeding, and lower intraoperative blood transfusion rate. And there is no significant disadvantage in the B or C grade fistula.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) and clinical characteristics of pancreatic cancer patients and the factors influencing SII.Methods:To retrospectively analyze the data of 98 pancreatic cancer patients with R 0 resection in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, from January 2018 to January 2023, of whom 54 were male and 44 were female at the age of (59.2±10.7) years. All patients were divided into the high SII group ( n=49) and the low SII group ( n=49) based on the median SII of 668. Preoperative albumin, proportion of tumor located in the head of the pancreas, preoperative total bilirubin, and length of hospitalization were compared between the two groups. The correlation between SII and clinical features was analyzed. The SII influencing factors of pancreatic cancer patients were analyzed by linear regression with univariate and multivariate analysis. Results:The preoperative albumin of pancreatic cancer patients in the high SII group was lower than that of the low SII group, while the proportion of tumors located in the head of the pancreas, the preoperative total bilirubin, and the length of hospital stay were higher than that of the low SII group, and the differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between preoperative albumin and SII ( r=-0.28, P=0.050), while a positive correlation between preoperative total bilirubin and SII ( r=0.36, P<0.001), as well as between hospitalization time and SII ( r=0.28, P=0.050). The SII of patients with tumors located in the head of the pancreas ( n=81) and the tail of the pancreatic body ( n=17) were 734 (418, 1 241) and 431 (276, 613), respectively, and the SII of patients who survived ( n=92) and died ( n=4) at the time of discharge were 628 (383, 1 113) and 1 283 (1 176, 1 507), respectively, and the differences in SII of patients with different tumor locations and different discharge status were all significant. The SII of the patients were compared, and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-2.51, 2.05, P=0.012, 0.038). Screening variables in the univariate linear regression model showed that admission total bilirubin, tumor volume, and preoperative albumin were associated with SII levels (all P<0.05). When the above variables were included in the multivariate linear regression, the higher the preoperative total bilirubin ( β=2.74, 95% CI: 1.48-4.00, P<0.001) as well as the larger the tumor volume ( β=2.34, 95% CI: 1.04-3.63, P<0.001) in pancreatic cancer patients, the higher the value of SII. Conclusions:SII in pancreatic cancer patients was associated with preoperative albumin, tumor location, preoperative total bilirubin, length of hospital stay, and survival or death at discharge. Preoperative total bilirubin and tumor volume were influential factors of SII in patients with pancreatic cancer.