Changing trends in Minimal Invasive Pancreatic surgery

Minimally invasive surgery has transformed general surgical practice tremendously over the last three decades. However, the adoption of laparoscopic surgery has been slower than other fields of general surgery. The reasons for this are obvious once the complexity of pancreatic surgery is considered, namely, the anatomical location (in the retroperitoneum) and (major vascular) relations of the gland, the need to reconstruct (as in the case of pancreatoduodenectory/PD), limited degree of freedom of movement with conventional laparoscopic instruments, two-dimensional vision, and the inherent morbidity associated with pancreatic surgeons, appreciating the benefits of minimally invasive surgery, continue to soldier on looking for opportunities to adopt this approach with a view to advancing the field, yet not losing focus that it is the interests of the patient that trump any approach even if it is considered an advancement in technology.