Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Remote Versus On-Site Robotic Surgery for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Procedures

168 participantsStarted 2026-06-30

Plain-language summary

This study will compare remote robotic surgery with on-site robotic surgery for patients who need surgery for diseases of the liver, bile duct, gallbladder, or pancreas. Remote robotic surgery means that an experienced surgeon controls the robotic surgical system from a different location, while the patient and the operating room team are at the local hospital. On-site robotic surgery means that the surgeon controls the robotic system in the same hospital as the patient. The main purpose of this study is to find out whether remote robotic surgery is not worse than on-site robotic surgery in terms of surgical success. Surgical success means that the planned robotic operation is completed safely, without unplanned conversion to open surgery or standard laparoscopic surgery, without major unexpected injury, and without serious problems related to the remote robotic system, network, or communication. Eligible patients will be adults who are scheduled to undergo selected robotic hepatobiliary or pancreatic procedures, including hepatectomy, liver segmentectomy, local liver resection, cholecystectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, or distal pancreatectomy. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the remote robotic surgery group or the on-site robotic surgery group. The study is single-blind, which means that participants will not know which group they are assigned to, although the surgical and operating room teams will know because of the nature of the procedure. The study will evaluate surgical success, operation time, blood loss, conversion to open surgery, complications, recovery after surgery, length of hospital stay, readmission, reoperation or other interventions, death within 30 and 90 days after surgery, and quality of recovery. For patients in the remote robotic surgery group, the study will also record the performance of the remote surgical system, including network delay, system stability, image transmission, system interruption, and the need for local surgical takeover. A total of 168 patients are planned to be enrolled. Patients will be followed during hospitalization and after surgery to assess safety, recovery, and short-term clinical outcomes. The results of this study may help determine whether remote robotic surgery can be safely and effectively used for hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, especially in hospitals or regions where access to experienced surgical specialists is limited.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 80 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 to 80 years, regardless of sex. * Scheduled to undergo robot-assisted hepatobiliary or pancreatic surgery, limited to hemihepatectomy, liver segmentectomy, local liver resection, cholecystectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, or distal pancreatectomy. * Considered to have an indication for surgery and to be suitable for robotic surgery based on preoperative assessment. * No definite contraindication to robotic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, pneumoperitoneum, or general anesthesia. * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class I to III. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of 0 to 2. * Expected survival of at least 3 months. * Adequate major organ function, with laboratory test results within 7 days before enrollment meeting the following criteria: white blood cell count at least 2.5 x 10\^9/L, absolute neutrophil count at least 1.5 x 10\^9/L, platelet count at least 75 x 10\^9/L, hemoglobin at least 90 g/L, international normalized ratio no more than 1.5 x upper limit of normal, and serum creatinine no more than 1.5 x upper limit of normal. * For patients undergoing liver surgery, Child-Pugh class A liver function or Child-Pugh class B liver function considered tolerable for surgery, with adequate liver reserve and adequate predicted future liver remnant volume. * For patients undergoing pancreatic surgery, imaging assessment showing resectability by robotic surgery without the need for complex vas…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Surgical Success Rate

Timeframe: From surgery to hospital discharge, assessed up to 30 days after surgery.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07716423

SponsorWest China Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2029-06-30

Contact for this trial

Yunshi Cai

+86 18323424374 caiyunshi@scu.edu.cn

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases trials