Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Madurai, has successfully performed an advanced robotic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy on a 35-year-old woman, marking a significance in complex robotic gastrointestinal surgery.The highly specialised procedure enabled complete removal of a pancreatic tumour while preserving the patient’s spleen and its vital blood vessels, offering faster recovery and long-term health benefits.The patient was diagnosed with an 8 × 8 cm solid pseudopapillary epithelial neoplasm (SPEN) involving the body of the pancreas.While the surgery was essential, preserving the spleen posed a significant surgical challenge because of its close relationship with the splenic artery and splenic vein. In many such cases, both the pancreas and spleen are removed together.However, considering the patient’s young age and her desire to preserve the spleen, the surgical team opted for the robotic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy using the Kimura Technique, one of the most technically demanding procedures in pancreatic surgery.The surgery was completed successfully in approximately four hours with minimal blood loss. The patient recovered remarkably well, experienced minimal postoperative pain, and was discharged on the third postoperative day.Srinivasan Ramachandran, Consultant – Surgical Gastroenterology, said, “Robotic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy represents one of the most advanced procedures in pancreatic surgery.”“The robotic platform allows exceptional precision while working around delicate blood vessels, making it possible to completely remove the tumour without sacrificing the spleen. Preserving the spleen is especially important in younger patients, as it helps maintain lifelong immune function and reduces the risk of future infections,” he added.Nikhil Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer, Apollo Hospitals – Madurai Cluster, said, “Apollo Madurai continues to lead the way in bringing advanced robotic surgical technology to south Tamil Nadu. Our investment in cutting-edge infrastructure and highly skilled specialists enables patients to access globally accepted surgical techniques close to home, with better precision, faster recovery, and improved quality of life.” Published - August 04, 2026 08:31 pm IST