Activity and Physiological Stress Within 90 Days After Minimally Invasive and Open Pancreatoduodenectomy

Study Overview

A new randomized clinical trial from the DIPLOMA-2 study evaluated how patients recover after minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy (MIPD) compared with open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD). Pancreatoduodenectomy, also known as the Whipple procedure, is a major operation used to remove tumors in the head of the pancreas or the periampullary region, an area where the pancreas, bile duct, and small intestine meet. Because this surgery is complex and physically demanding, recovery can be slow even after the patient leaves the hospital.

The main question in this analysis was whether the benefits of minimally invasive surgery continue after discharge. Rather than relying only on clinic visits or patient reports, the investigators used wearable activity trackers to measure step count, active minutes, and heart rate variability over the first 90 days after surgery.