Robot-assisted Versus Open Lateral Pancreaticojejunostomy for the Treatment of Symptomatic Chronic Pancreatitis (PANACOTTA)

Launched by ACADEMISCH MEDISCH CENTRUM - UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM (AMC-UVA) · Jul 31, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called PANACOTTA, is comparing two types of surgery to help people with chronic pancreatitis, a long-lasting inflammation of the pancreas that causes pain and other problems. The study looks at whether a newer, robot-assisted surgery is better than the traditional open surgery for a specific procedure called lateral pancreaticojejunostomy, which aims to relieve symptoms by improving drainage of the pancreas. Researchers want to see which method helps patients recover better after surgery.

People who might join this study are adults with chronic pancreatitis who have ongoing pain needing strong pain medicine or frequent flare-ups, and who have a widened main pancreatic duct. They need to be healthy enough for either type of surgery and must agree to take part in the study. If accepted, participants will be randomly assigned to have either the robot-assisted or open surgery and then doctors will carefully follow their recovery to compare outcomes. The trial is currently looking for volunteers aged 18 and older, regardless of gender. This study may help improve surgical options and recovery for people with chronic pancreatitis in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • At least 18 years old
• • Indication for (extended or partial) lateral pancreaticojejunostomy as agreed during multidisciplinary team meeting based on symptomatic chronic pancreatitis (i.e. morphine dependent pain or recurrent acute flares of pancreatitis, at least 3 episodes per year) and a dilated pancreatic duct of ≥ 5 mm, with a non-enlarged pancreatic head \< 40 mm
• • Confirmed CP, according to the M-ANNHEIM diagnostic Criteria24
• • Eligible for both an robot-assisted and open approach
• • Obtained written informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Suspected or confirmed current pancreatic cancer
• • ASA classification ≥ 4
• • Other painful conditions aside from CP, with pain difficult to discriminate from CP pain
• • Prior pancreatic surgery
• • Pregnancy