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Background: The surgical treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts (PPs) in patients who fail nonoperative management has evolved from aggressive open to a minimally invasive approach. The application of robotic surgery in this setting is scarcely reported. The aim of this study is to analyze the safety and feasibility of the robotic approach to pancreatic pseudocyst drainage. Methods: A single centre retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing robotic-assisted pancreatic pseudocyst surgeries in an academic tertiary institution was performed. Results: There were 14 patients studied, of whom 10 underwent cystogastrostomy and 4 Roux-En- Y cystojejunostomy. Eight patients had gallstone pancreatitis and 3 patients alcoholic pancreatitis. The mean size of cyst was 8.9 +-1cm and 57.1% located at the pancreatic body. The overall operative time of the procedure was 135 +-34 minutes. There were no open conversions. The overall success rate was 92.8%, while the primary success rate 85.7%. The major morbidity rate was 14.3% and there was no 30-day mortality. The mean post-operative hospital stay was 7 +-3 days with one recurrence of the pancreatic pseudocyst on follow-up requiring endoscopic drainage without further recurrence. Conclusions: The robotic approach for the drainage of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocyst is safe and feasible and can be considered as a viable modality for operative intervention in well-selected patients.

Background: Different techniques of pancreatic anastomosis have been described, with inconclusive results in terms of pancreatic fistula reduction. Studies comparing robotic pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) and pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) are scarcely reported. Methods: The present study analyzes the outcomes of two case-matched groups of patients who underwent PG (n = 20) or PJ (n = 40) after pancreaticoduodenectomy. The primary aim was to compare the rate of post-operative pancreatic fistula. Results: Operative time (375 vs. 315 min, p = 0.34), estimated blood loss (270 vs. 295 mL, p = 0.44), and rate of clinically relevant post-operative pancreatic fistula (12.5% vs. 10%, p = 0.82) were similar between the two groups. PJ was associated with a higher rate of intra-abdominal collections (7.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.002), but lower post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage (2.5% vs. 10%, p = 0.003). PG was associated with a lower rate of post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) (33.3% vs. 50%, p = 0.003) in the high-risk group of patients. Conclusions: The outcomes of post-operative pancreatic fistula are comparable between the two reconstruction techniques. PG may have a lower incidence of POPF in patients with high-risk of pancreatic fistula.

Introduction: General acceptance of the robotic platform in pancreatic surgery is poor. One of the main concerns regarding this technique is that the likelihood of complications is greater compared to other approaches. Material and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of our database on robotic pancreatic surgery. Results: A total of 22 patients (12 male) underwent robotic pancreatic surgery. 6 pancreatoduodenectomies (PD 27.3%), 12 distal pancreatectomies (DP 54.5%), 2 tumor enucleations (9.1%) and 2 pseudocyst-gastrostomy (9.1%) were performed. The overall operative time was 425 (390–620) min, the median blood loss was 150 ml (70–600). We observed 10/22 (45.4%) overall postoperative morbidity, with 4 grade III to V complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classifi cation system. The Clinically relevant pancreatic fi stula rate was 3/22 (13.6%): 2 in DP group, 1 in the PD group. The reoperation rate was 2/22, one in the PD group, the other in the PG group; while the readmission rate was 18.6%. There was no postoperative death during the 30 days post surgery. Conclusion: Robotic pancreatic surgery seems to be safe and feasible and it is associated with an acceptable risk of complications, low estimated blood loss and low conversion rate. Wprowadzenie: Ogólny stopień akceptacji dla stosowania chirurgii robotowej w chirurgii trzustki jest niski. Jedną z podstawowych barier dla wprowadzania tej techniki jest obawa przed większym niż w przypadku innych technik operacyjnych ryzykiem wystąpienia powikłań pooperacyjnych. Materiał i metody: Przeprowadzono retrospektywną analizę danych szpitalnych dotyczących zabiegów operacyjnych trzustki z dostępu robotowego. Wyniki: Ogółem operowano 22 chorych (w tym 12 mężczyzn) z zastosowaniem systemu robotowego do operacji trzustki. Wykonano 6 pankreatoduodenektomii (27,3%), 12 pankreatektomii obwodowych (54,5%), 2 wyłuszczenia guza (9,1%) oraz 2 zespolenia pseudotorbieli trzustki ze światłem żołądka (9,1%). Czas operacji wyniósł średnio 425 min (390–620 min), a mediana utraty krwi – 150 ml (70–600 ml). Powikłania pooperacyjne stwierdzono u 10 z 22 chorych (45,4%) przy czym u 4 wystąpiły powikłania w stopniu III–V według skali Claviena-Dindo. Klinicznie istotna przetoka trzustkowa wystąpiła u 3 z 22 chorych (13,6%), w tym u 2 chorych po resekcji obwodowej trzustki i u 1 po pankreatoduodenektomii. Reoperacje były konieczne u 2 z 22 chorych: jedna po zabiegu pankreatoduodenektomii i jedna po zespoleniu pseudotorbieli ze światłem żołądka. Odsetek ponownych przyjęć do szpitala wyniósł 18,6%. Nie stwierdzono zgonów w okresie 30 dni po zabiegu operacyjnym. Wnioski: Robotowa chirurgia trzustki wydaje się być techniką bezpieczną i wykonalną przy akceptowalnym ryzyku powikłań pooperacyjnych, niskiej śródoperacyjnej utracie krwi oraz niskim ryzyku konwersji.

Introduction Cryopreservation for long term storage of platelets (PLTs) represents a clinical useful method for avoiding platelet shortage. Many studies have tried to define, in vitro and in vivo, the entity and weight of storage-related PLTs lesions with discordant results related to different methods. We have performed an in vitro prospective study to evaluate PLTs count, viability and function of buffy coat derived pooled platelet concentrates (BC-PLTs) treated with dimethyl-sulphoxide (DMSO) and cryopreserved at -80°C with an innovative patented system not requiring laminal flow hoods and external manipulations. Materials and methods Each BC-PLTs was obtained from 5 buffy coats and pooled according to standard procedures. The final PLTs concentrates were leukoreduced by filtration and transferred to a 650 mL cryopreservation kit (Promedical ®) which allowed mixing with DMSO 25% in a closed system and following removal of supernatant without further manipulations. BC-PLTs were washed prior freezing with removal of at least 84% supernatant solution, suspended in homologous plasma from 1 of the 5 donors to a final concentration of 200 mL and frozen at – 80°.Selection criteria to make BC-PLTs available for this study was pooled PLTs concentration > 1250 x 109/L and a blood units collection time duration shorter than 6 minutes. All the 245 donors were healthy volunteers and they did not take any medication affecting PLTs function. BC-PLTs were analyzed immediately pre-freezing (T0) and 3 months after cryopreservation ( CRY BC-PLTs). The following parameters were assayed: PLTs count (PC), mean platelet volume (MPV), pH, flow cytometry (FACS) expression of CD41a, CD42b, CD61a, CD62p, PAC-1, Annexin V PLTs surface antigens and thromboelastography (TEG). All samples were analyzed also after dilution (1:4) with homologous plasma to approximately 400 x109/L PLTs (data not shown) and for bacterial contamination (BC). CRY BC-PLTs samples were thawed in a bath at 37°C for 5 minutes and evaluated promptly. All the tests were performed according to current European recommendations. PLTs swirl was furthermore visually assessed. Results were expressed as mean +/- standard deviation (SD). Results obtained at T0 and after 3 months were compared by paired sample t-test. Differences were considered as significant at p values Results In vitro cell parameters were measured on 49 BC-PLTs and 15 CRY BC-PLTs as reported in Table1. PC was only slightly reduced in CRY BC-PLTs while MPV was significantly increased in CRY BC-PLTs. There were no differences between the 2 groups in CD41a, CD61a, CD62p and Annexin V expression while a significant reduction in CD 42b, PAC-1 for CRY BC-PLTs was observed. TEG parameters were all significantly reduced in CRY BC-PLTs samples without affecting hemostasis. PLTs swirl was observed in all samples and BC was absent. Conclusions The preliminary results of our investigation confirm the potential of a new system to overcome limits to PLTs storage. In fact, this method guarantees sterility and avoids excessive manipulations thanks to a closed system. Our method avoids PLTs apoptosis, as shown by absent expression of Annexin V. The adequate hemostasis achieved at TEG in both groups supports the hypothesis that in vitro PLTs activation/deterioration doesn’t necessarily mirror an impaired hemostatic in vivo function of CRY BC-PLTs. The next step of current study will be to evaluate the influence of the observed in vitro activation changes on PLTs recovery and survival in vivo. Disclosures: De Francisci: Promedical: Consultancy. Reina:PROMEDICAL: Consultancy. Allegro:Promedical: Employment.