Global research trends and frontier evolution in robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy: a bibliometric and visualization analysis

作者：Li J, Miao Y, Zhang Y · 发表于：Journal of robotic surgery · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1007/s11701-026-03526-y · 研究领域：Bibliometric analysis、Minimally invasive pancreatic surgery、Pancreatic fistula、Robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy、Spleen preservation

Robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy is increasingly recognized as an important minimally invasive option for lesions of the pancreatic body and tail. Given the technical complexity inherent to distal pancreatectomy, including deep operative planes, vascular dissection, splenic vessel management, and the persistent risk of postoperative pancreatic fistula, robotic systems may offer specific advantages in selected settings. However, although the number of relevant publications has continued to rise, the overall research landscape and thematic development of this field remain insufficiently and unsystematically characterized. The present study was designed to assess the global research status, knowledge structure, and evolving hotspots in the field of robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy through bibliometric and visualization analysis. A total of 254 eligible publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2025, including 210 articles and 44 reviews, were analyzed using Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Scimago Graphica. The yearly publication output demonstrated a general increasing pattern, with more marked growth from the mid-2010s onward and the highest output recorded in 2025. Italy together with the United States remained the principal contributors across much of the study period, while China showed sustained growth in recent years. The United States ranked first in citation impact. Several institutions, including ...