PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Chen, Yigang
AU  - Yan, Jun
AU  - Yuan, Ziming
AU  - Yu, Song
AU  - Wang, Zhigang
AU  - Zheng, Qi
TI  - A meta-analysis of robotic-assisted pancreatectomy versus laparoscopic and open pancreatectomy
DP  - 2013 Dec 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1229--1236
VI  - 34
IP  - 12
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/34/12/1229.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/34/12/1229.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2013 Dec 01; 34
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To perform a meta-analysis of eligible studies from multiple medical centers to assess the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of robotic-assisted pancreatectomy (RP).METHODS: We searched the electronic databases PubMed and EMBASE for studies comparing RP with laparoscopic pancreatectomy (LP) and open pancreatectomy (OP) for patients with pancreatic disease from June 2009 to June 2012. Continuous variables were pooled using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and odds ratio (OR), and dichotomous variables were pooled using the risk difference (RD) method. For all analyses, the 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. Three studies comparing RP and LP, and 4 studies comparing RP and OP were suitable for meta-analysis.RESULTS: Six published studies met the inclusion criteria. Our results showed that RP can reduce estimated blood loss and duration of hospitalization more than OP. For pancreatic fistula, there were no statistical differences between RP, OP, and LP, and no significant differences in intraoperative conversion rates between RP and LP. Robotic-assisted pancreatectomy may be able to increase microscopic negative margins of resection (R0) and spleen preserving rates.CONCLUSION: Robotic-assisted pancreatectomy was associated with increased R0 resection rates and spleen preserving rates than LP and OP. Moreover, RP can reduce estimated blood loss and duration of hospitalization more than OP. A robotic approach to pancreatectomy may be suited to patients with pancreatic disease.