Robotic Spleen Preserving Distal Pancreatectomy for Insulinoma

Eilzabeth A. Hedges, MD; Jacob Moalem, MD, FACS; Luke O. Schoeniger, MD, PhD, FACS

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-5774
Year Produced: 2019
Length: 8 min.


Insulinoma is a rare condition affecting 4 per 1 million individuals per year but are the most common of the pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET)1. Insulinomas are most common in women in the fifth decade of life and can present at in any area portion of the pancreas typically as a small, well-circumscribed lesion1. In this video we present a 59-year-old female, who presented with six months of progressive symptoms of neuroglycopenia and classic symptoms of Whipple's triad. Laboratory evaluation revealed blood glucose levels in the 40's and proinsulin level 178 pmol/L. However, pre-operative CT and MRI were unremarkable for pancreatic lesion. The patient underwent a robotic spleen preserving distal pancreatectomy with uncomplicated post-operative course. This video demonstrates how robotic surgery aids with pancreatic dissection and allows for careful dissection of splenic vessels to allow for splenic preservation. Intraoperative ultrasound was used to determine if enucleation would be possible, however, the patient's tumor was in close proximity to the pancreatic duct and distal pancreatectomy was necessary. This video demonstrates the ability for facile minimally invasive suturing of the pancreatic duct and cut pancreatic surface. Through this technique our center has established a pancreatic fistula rate of 10% versus the NSQUIP adjusted pancreatic fistula rate of 22%. Final pathology revealed a 1.5 x. 1.1 x 1.0 cm well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor consistent with low-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia stage pT1NX. 1. Yu R. Neuroendocrine Tumor Syndromes. Endocrinology' Adult and Pediatric. seventh ed2016'2606-2614.