First experience of robotic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy in a child with insulinoma

• Main Authors: Ming-Gen Hu, Yuan-Hong Xiao, Dong-Da Song, Guo-Dong Zhao, Yan-Zhe Liu, Zheng Wang, Hao-Yu Li, Rong Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2017-11-01
• Series: World Journal of Surgical Oncology
• Subjects: Robotic surgery; Insulinoma; Distal pancreatectomy; Pediatric surgery
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12957-017-1265-6

Abstract Background An insulinoma is a functional neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor, and surgical resection is indicated. Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgeries have been shown to be generally safe and feasible for treatment of pediatric cases of urologic and digestive disease. Case presentation In July 2016, a 9-year-old girl (24 kg, 120 cm) was admitted with a pancreatic tail insulinoma and underwent robot-assisted spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. The total procedure time was 155 min, and the blood loss was about 10 ml. The patient recovered without complications. Conclusions This case supports that robot-assisted spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy may be safe and feasible in pediatric insulinoma patients.