A narrative review of the history and recent advances in minimally invasive pancreatic resection

Pancreatic resections are complex operations that carry the potential for long-term and life-threatening complications. Over the past several decades, improved surgical techniques and perioperative care have decreased the morbidity and mortality associated with these operations. As laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery has been increasingly used in other specialties, the role of minimally invasive techniques in pancreatic surgery remains unclear. We aimed to review the evolution of pancreatic surgery and summarize current data comparing outcomes between open and minimally invasive pancreatic techniques. A comprehensive review was performed using MEDLINE/PubMed with the search dates of January 1, 2018 to February 28, 2023. In PubMed, the terms “pancreas”, “minimally invasive surgery”, and “robotic surgery” were searched. Minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (DP) is associated with decreased length of hospital stay and intraoperative blood loss with similar morbidity and mortality when compared to open DP. While randomized data supports decreased length of stay for minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), the LEOPARD 2 trial was terminated early due to increased mortality among patients undergoing laparoscopic PD. Minimally invasive DP appears safe and efficacious compared to open surgery, whereas additional ongoing randomized studies from experienced centers are needed to determine the role of minimally invasive surgery for PD.