Robotic Pancreaticoduodenectomy Is Associated with Decreased Clinically Relevant Pancreatic Fistulas: a Propensity-Matched Analysis

Background: Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is a major complication that adversely affects recovery. The robotic approach may decrease the incidence of this complication. This propensity-matched analysis evaluates the impact of robotic PD (RPD) on CR-POPF. Methods: Patients undergoing PD after the learning curve at a high-volume academic medical center were reviewed. CR-POPF outcomes after open PD (OPD) and RPD were compared. Logistic regression and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to define the independent effect of RPD on CR-POPF. Results: Of 865 PDs performed over the study period, 405 (46.8%) were OPD and 460 (53.2%) were RPD. RPD was associated with a similar overall POPF rate, but a lower incidence of CR-POPF (6.7% vs. 15.8%, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, RPD was an independent predictor of lower CR-POPF (OR 0.278, p < 0.001). Following propensity matching, RPD continued to be protective against the occurrence of CR-POPF (coefficient = − 0.113, p = 0.001). Conclusions: This is the largest single-center PSM analysis to evaluate the impact of robotic approach on pancreatoduodenectomy and suggests that RPD can minimize the clinical impact of pancreatic leaks after PD.