Robotic single-port plus one-port splenic vessel-conserving spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy: a case report

Minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy is a safe and effective surgical approach for the treatment of distal pancreatic tumors. Recently, the da Vinci single-port (SP) system (Intuitive Surgical, Inc.) was introduced to overcome the previously known limitations of this approach. Here, we report our experience with robotic SP plus one-port splenic vessel-conserving spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (RSP + 1 SVc-SpDP). A 38-year-old male patient was incidentally found to have a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. On May 12, 2023, RSP + 1 SVc-SpDP was performed. The robotic SP was placed at the transumbilical site, and an additional 12-mm port was placed on the left side of the patient's abdomen. The surgical procedure was based on splenic vessel-conserving, spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy. The operative time was 350 minutes, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 8 without any complications. The initial experience of RSP + 1 SVc-SpDP using the da Vinci SP system showed the possibility of an alternative operation for distal pancreatectomy.