Minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy can be performed using either a laparoscopic or robotic approach. These minimally invasive techniques are becoming increasingly common in the surgical treatment of both benign and malignant pancreatic lesions. They offer several advantages over traditional open surgery, such as less postoperative pain, better cosmetic results, faster recovery, less blood loss during surgery, and lower healthcare costs. However, despite these advantages, evidence comparing postoperative outcomes, particularly complications, between laparoscopic and robotic distal pancreatectomy remains limited.
Previous studies suggest that robotic surgery may offer technical benefits, such as greater accuracy and precision, which could potentially result in fewer complications. However, the available literature is diverse and often based on small cohorts.