Nationwide Implementation and Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Distal Pancreatectomy

After a nationwide training program and randomized trial, researchers conducted a Dutch pancreatic cancer audit-based study on 1496 patients undergoing minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) and open distal pancreatectomy (ODP). MIDP implementation increased from 48.6% to 63.0%, with considerable variation between centers. In the late implementation period, MIDP demonstrated stable outcomes, while ODP was more common in complex cases. MIDP showed advantages in shorter hospital stay and less blood loss but increased postoperative pancreatic fistula rates.