Minimally Invasive Distal Pancreatectomy: Nationwide Uptake and Outcomes After Training Program and Trial

A nationwide audit-based study was conducted to evaluate the long-term uptake and outcomes of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) following a training program and randomized trial. The study found that the implementation of MIDP increased from 48.6% to 63.0% over time, with a significant variation in usage between centers. MIDP resulted in shorter hospital stays and less blood loss compared to open distal pancreatectomy (ODP), but slightly higher rates of postoperative pancreatic fistula. The study suggests the need for future research to explore the differences in MIDP utilization between centers.