Abstract
BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (DP) improves patient outcomes but also introduces significant ergonomic challenges for surgeons. This study quantitatively compares the ergonomic stress and mental workload associated with laparoscopic versus robot-assisted DP. METHODS: An exploratory, prospective, observational cohort trial was conducted with two experienced pancreatic surgeons performing 20 DPs (10 laparoscopic using IMAGE1 S Rubina and 10 robot-assisted using da Vinci® Si platform). Ergonomic stress was assessed using stabilometric analysis, kinematic pelvic movement analysis, ocular examinations, cortisol level monitoring, and the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). RESULTS: Robot-assisted DP demonstrated superior ergonomic performance, with reduced physical and mental demands compared to laparoscopic DP. Stabilometric tests indicated significantly greater postural stability during robot-assisted surgery, characterized by lower variance in body oscillations. Kinematic analyses confirmed smoother pelvic movements in robot-assisted procedures, suggesting reduced physical fatigue. Visual strain was markedly higher during laparoscopic surgery, likely due to prolonged screen exposure. The NASA-TLX indicated significantly lower overall workload scores for robot-assisted DP (35.3 ± 19.5) compared to laparoscopic DP (50.7 ± 21.7, p = 0.04). Cortisol analyses consistently showed elevated stress levels in the laparoscopic group compared to the robotic group, reinforcing the finding of greater physiological stress in the laparoscopic setting. CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted DP significantly reduces ergonomic stress, visual strain, and cognitive workload compared to laparoscopic DP. However, it also introduces specific ergonomic challenges, particularly involving neck and trapezius muscle strain. Future studies should investigate ergonomic modifications to further optimize surgeon well-being and performance during robot-assisted pancreatic procedures.