Pancreatic cancer treatment with robotic-assisted Whipple procedure

The Da Vinci robotic Whipple procedure for pancreatic removal combines the effectiveness of open surgery with the advantages of the laparoscopic robot-assisted method. All robot actions are controlled by a team of specialists led by a pancreatic surgeon. The surgery aims to remove the pancreatic tumor while preserving healthy tissues and reducing traumatization. The robot's "arms" are thin, flexible instruments, the accuracy measured in fractions of a millimeter. That significantly exceeds the accuracy of human hand movements. In addition, such tools have much freedom of movement in the abdomen. As a result, moving the organs, risking injuring them, is unnecessary. The patient falls asleep with the help of general anesthesia. Then, through several miniature incisions, the surgeon inserts a video camera with a lamp and robot manipulators into the abdomen and fills it with gas. That is necessary for a broad overview of the operational field. The color 3D image transmitted by the camera to the monitor can be scaled, and the minor details can be viewed. Then these devices are connected to the robot's control panel, and the surgeon manipulates them remotely, just like in a computer game – using joysticks and pedals. After the operation, the patient remains under the supervision of doctors for several days. The low invasiveness makes it possible to shorten the rehabilitation period. Without complications, the patient is discharged after a week.