Robotic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy using the first domestic surgical robot platform (the hinotori™ Surgical Robot System): a case report

BackgroundRobotic pancreatectomy has been performed worldwide mainly using the da Vinci (R) Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Recently, because of the death of some patents related to the da Vinci (R) system, new surgical robot systems have been introduced that are characterized by unique technical refinements. In Japan, the hinotori (TM) Surgical Robot System (Medicaroid Corporation, Kobe, Japan) was approved for use in gastroenterological surgery in October 2022. Since then, we have attempted complicated procedures using this robot. In this report, we report our first experience performing spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein using this first Japanese domestic surgical robot.Case presentationThe patient was a 58-year-old woman with a mass in the pancreatic tail identified during medical screening. Further examinations resulted in a diagnosis of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. The patient consented to surgical resection, and we planned robotic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein, using the hinotori (TM). Five trocars, including one port for the assistant surgeon, were placed in the upper abdomen. The operating unit was rolled in from the patient's right side. The pivot position was set for each robotic arm, and this setting was specific to the hinotori (TM). The cockpit surgeon performed all surgical procedures, excluding port placement and pancreatic transection. There were no unrecoverable device errors during the operation. The operation time was 531 min, and blood loss was 192 ml. The postoperative course was uneventful. We were able to safely perform this highly complicated surgery for a pancreatic tumor using the first Japanese domestic surgical robot platform.ConclusionsThe first Japanese domestic surgical robot platform, hinotori (TM), has different features from those of the da Vinci (R) and performed sufficiently as a surgical robot system in highly advanced pancreatic surgery.