The project
Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is the main therapeutic procedure for patients with pancreatic head cancers, traditionally with an open (OPD) approach, however, recent robotic technology (RPD) has become available enabling less invasive surgery. Analyses of retrospective data are encouraging with RPD superior to OPD in terms of overall post-op complications, wound infections rate, estimated blood loss, and post operative pain. However, RPD is expensive, and as yet we do not have data confirming it is equal to open surgery in terms of cancer cure rate ,to warrant adoption within the NHS. This trial is comparing the two types of surgery.
What are you going to do?
Dr Zaed Hamady intends to conduct a randomised trial comparing RPD to OPD in 3-4 high-volume centres for pancreatic surgery in the UK and will recruit 460 patients over 5 years. He will power the trial for two co-primary endpoints: non-inferiority of RPD in R0 rate and superiority of RPD in reducing length of hospital stay. They will collect data on Lymph node yield, time to start adjuvant chemotherapy, surgical complications, conversion to open procedure, HDU/ITU stay, health related quality of life, functional recovery, health economics, overall and disease-free survival.
Why is this research important?
If this trial is successful then he will have proven that robotic surgery improves patient outcomes by reducing post-surgery recovery time without jeopardising cancer related outcomes.
How to get involved
Zaed and his team would like feedback from anyone who has had surgery or is planned to have surgery for pancreatic cancer (including relatives).
No scientific background or prior experience is needed to take part in this opportunity.
Next steps
If you are interested in reviewing this document or would like more information, please email the Research Team (research@pancreaticcancer.org.uk) quoting the involvement reference ‘Hamady RIN Participation’.
