Paediatric Surgery (Ukraine). 2025. 4(89): 21-24. doi: 10.15574/PS.2025.4(89).2124
Dvorakevych А. О.¹, Kulyk О. М.², Shevchuk D. V.^¹,3, Кalinchuk О. О.¹, Miskiv I. P.¹, Shurmakevych Z. B.¹
¹CC «First Lviv Territorial Medical Union» Subdivision «St. Nicholas Hospital», Ukraine
²SNPE «Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University», Ukraine
³Ivan Franko Zhytomyr State University, Ukraine

For citation: Dvorakevych АО, Kulyk ОМ, Shevchuk DV, Кalinchuk ОО, Miskiv IP, Shurmakevych ZB.
(2025). Application of robotic surgery in the treatment of splenic cysts in children. Paediatric Surgery (Ukraine). 4(89): 21-24. doi: 10.15574/PS.2025.4(89).2124.
Article received: Sep 15, 2025. Accepted for publication: Dec 12, 2025.

Splenic cysts are the most common benign neoplasms of this organ. Minimally invasive interventions for diseases of the spleen are becoming increasingly popular. The availability of robotic platforms allows us to qualify patients with the presented pathology for robotic surgical interventions.
Aim – to compare the results of surgical treatment of splenic cysts (robotic and laparoscopic) in children.
Materials and methods. From 2021 to 2025, 29 children with splenic cysts of various localization and sizes were operated. Patients were divided into two groups: laparoscopic (n=16) and robotic (n=13). The comparison groups are equivalent in structure. The age of the patients is from 4 to 17 years (average 12.0±3.2 years). Surgical interventions were performed using the robotic platforms "Da Vinci S" and "Da Vinci Si" and the laparoscopic system from the company Karl Storz. In total, 26 (90%) partial splenectomies and 3 (10%) total splenectomies were performed due to recurrence of splenic cysts that occupied more than 90% of the organ volume.
Results. The average duration of surgical intervention was 1.9±0.3 h in the robotic group and 2.24±0.4 h in the laparoscopic group. The conversion rate in both groups was 0%. The average duration of hospitalization was shorter in the robotic group (4.0±1.0 days versus 5.0±1.2 days). No recurrences were detected during the observation period, however, 1 operation in the robotic group was performed for recurrence after laparoscopic fenestration of the cyst with transition to laparotomy (performed in another clinic).
Conclusions. In summary, it can be noted the optimality of using robotics in operations on the spleen, especially for cysts of large size and complex anatomical localization (hiatus, upper-posterior surface of the spleen). Long-term results indicate the effectiveness of the method as such, which guarantees the absence of disease recurrence.
The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from the children's parents.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Keywords: splenic cyst, children, robotic surgery, laparoscopy.

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