Kim Song-cheol performs laparoscopic surgeries to remove pancreato-biliary tumor at Asan Medical Center. / Courtesy of Asan Medical Center

Asan Medical Center became the second in the world to perform 100 laparoscopic surgeries to remove pancreato-biliary tumor, according to a press release by the hospital, Tuesday.

Also known as minimally invasive surgery, the technique requires small incision (0.5-1.5 centimeters) to reach the mass affecting pancreas and bile duct compared to a laparotomy that needs a larger opening.

The Mayo Clinic, a tertiary care unit in Minnesota, United States is the institution that holds the record.

The division of gastroenterology led by Kim Song-cheol has been carrying out laparoscopic pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) since May 2007. The team reached 45 cases by 2011 and 100 in February.

A male patient, 65, underwent the 100th PPPD, and was able to leave the hospital eight days after the surgery.

Kim has used the method, which has gained recognition recently, to remove other types of tumors such as carcinoid tumor and intraductal papillary mucinous tumor.

He stated in the press release he plans to systemize the procedure to make it more applicable.

During the five years, the group of surgeons at Asan reduced the average operation time from 9.9 hours to 6.4 hours; the probability of developing complication from 36.5% to 18.4%; and hospital stays from 21.3 to 11.5 days.

The paper detailing methods and results of the medical center’s endeavor was published by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons in March. It will also be published in Surgical Endoscopy.