INTRODUCTIONOver the past few decades, the use of laparoscopic surgery has expanded rapidly to become the surgical approach of choice for many abdominal operations, including cholecystectomies, (1) appendicectomies, (2) adrenalectomies,colectomies (4) and gastric resections.(5,6) However, the adoption of laparoscopic surgery in the fields of liver and pancreatic surgery has been relatively slow. (7,8) Although the first laparoscopic liver and pancreatic resections were reported in the early 1990s, (9,10) widespread adoption of such operations has been hindered by the technical complexities of these procedures, and concerns about oncological margins and risk of bleeding. (8) Pancreatic surgery is among the most complex and challenging of all abdominal operations.(11) Despite rapid surgical advancements, pancreatic surgery remains a challenge and is associated with a high morbidity rate worldwide, even in highly specialised and experienced tertiary centres.(12,13) Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery was first reported by Cuschieri in 1994.(9) Since then, a growing number of studies on laparoscopic pancreatic surgeries have been published, although it has yet to gain widespread acceptance.(11) As distal pancreatectomy (DP) is not as technically demanding as pancreaticoduodenectomy, it is not surprising that most of the published studies are on the outcomes of laparoscopic DP (LDP). (14) These early studies have reported the potential benefits of using the laparoscopic approach, including decreased pain and blood loss, faster recovery, and a shorter hospital stay; the laparoscopic approach is also associated with morbidity rates that are similar to those observed with the use of the open approach. (14,15) Despite the increased adoption of LDP, there are barriers to its widespread adoption, which include the significant risk of conversion to the hand-assisted or open approach. (15,16) Robotic surgery was introduced to overcome the shortcomings of conventional laparoscopic surgery. (11,15,17) The robotic platform provides a three-dimensional, high-definition, magnified view of the operative field. It also provides the additional advantages of improved dexterity and precision due to increased freedom of movement and the elimination of tremors. (7,11) The superiority of robotic surgery over conventional laparoscopy when performing complex surgical tasks has been proven in ex vivo models. (15) However, its use in the clinical setting remains controversial, especially with regard to DP. In the first series of robotic distal pancreatectomies (RDPs), reported by Giulianotti et al in 2003, 13 patients underwent RDP. (18) Several studies on RDP have since been reported, most of which were small case series involving less than 50 patients. (17)