Robotic distal pancreatectomy - the first experience.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) includes both laparoscopic and robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP). MIDP is often adopted first due to the absence of the requirement of a complex reconstruction. In recent years, an increase in the use of robotic surgery has been noted. METHODS: The authors present initial experience with RDP and retrospective analysis of data from prospectively collected database. RESULTS: Between September 2021 and October 2022 five patients undergoing RDP with splenectomy performed in the 3rd Department of Surgery, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital were included from a prospectively maintained database. The age was from 20 to 70 years. No conversion was required. One patient underwent reoperation due to staple-line hemorrhage. Postoperative hospital stay was from 4 to 14 days. The follow-up period was from 2 to 14 months. CONCLUSION: Our first experience demonstrates RDP is a safe and efficacious approach for tumors of pancreatic body and tail in selected patients. A larger number of patients is needed to obtain more accurate results.

[First Experience with Diaphragm Pacing System in the Czech Republic]. / První zkusenosti se stimulacním systémem bránice v Ceské republice.

Patients with impaired diaphragm function are dependent on long-term mechanical ventilation. It is associated with numerous health complications as well as significant economic burden. Intramuscular diaphragm stimulation through laparoscopic implantation of pacing electrodes is a safe method which enables restoring breathing using diaphragm in a considerable number of patients. The first implantation of diaphragm pacing system in the Czech Republic was performed in a thirty-four-year-old patient suffering from a high-level cervical spinal cord lesion. After eight years of mechanical ventilation support, just five months from initiation of stimulation, the patient is able to breathe spontaneously for ten hours per day on average, with expected total weaning. Once the insurance companies decide to reimburse the pacing system, a widespread use of the method even in patients with other diagnoses, including children, is expected. Key words: electrical stimulation, diaphragm, spinal cord injury, laparoscopic surgery.

Robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy - our first experience.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive esophagectomy is associated with lower postoperative morbidity and better quality of life compared to open esophagectomy in patients with comparable oncological outcomes. Robotic-assisted surgery represents the next step in the development of mini- mally invasive surgery. We aim to present the results of a pilot cohort of patients undergoing robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE). METHODS: An initial cohort of patients with RAMIE was retrospectively analyzed. Operative characteristics, histopathological results, postoperative course, incidence of complications, and postoperative mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: From 3/2022 to 6/2023, a total of 31 patients underwent RAMIE at our institution, including hybrid RAMIE (robotic abdomen, open chest) in 11 and total RAMIE in 20 patients. Most patients were male, had locally advanced tumors, predominantly adenocarcinoma and neoadjuvant treat- ment. Thirty patients had Ivor-Lewis and one patient had McKeown esophagectomy. The median total operative time was 495 minutes and median blood loss was 200 mL. R0 resection was achieved in 87% of patients. A median of 26 lymph nodes were removed. Postoperative Clavien-Dindo ≥3 complications occurred in 9 (29%) patients. Four (13%) patients required reoperation. Anastomotic leak was found in 5 (16%) and pneumonia in 9 (29%) patients. The median hospital stay was 9 days. One patient died in the postoperative period. Thirty-day and 90-day mortality rates were 0% and 3.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our initial experience shows that RAMIE is a safe surgical procedure and we consider its implementation at our institution to be success- ful. After overcoming the learning curve, we hope to reduce the operative time and increase the medical benefit for the patient.