Intraoperative management of iatrogenic bile duct injury during robotic Whipple procedure

With the growing global adoption of robotic surgery, entry-level procedures such as cholecystectomies provide residents with valuable hands-on experience. At our hospital, residents and fellows are permitted to perform supervised robotic surgeries after completing a 2-week robotic training curriculum. In this case, a junior surgeon performing a robotic cholecystectomy during a Whipple procedure caused a bile duct injury (Fig. 1). The surgical team successfully managed the complication by incorporating the injured duct into a second biliary anastomosis. The Whipple procedure was completed, and the patient recovered well, being discharged on postoperative day 6. While complications are expected during complex procedures, their timely recognition and effective management are critical for achieving optimal outcomes.

Figure 1

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All authors contributed to the concept, and approved the submitted version.

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