Robotic surgery, shorter stays in chronic pancreatitis

Robotic pancreatic drainage was linked to a shorter hospital stay, but clinically significant pancreatic fistulas were more common.

• The Dutch cohort included 133 patients; median stay was two days shorter after robotic surgery.
• Pancreatic fistulas occurred nearly three times as often after robotic surgery; major complication rates were similar.

This was an early, nonrandomized experience. Patient selection and the learning curve may explain some of the differences.