Minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy: A bibliometric method applied to the top one hundred cited articles

Abstract

Background: Minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) is considered one of the most complex procedures in general surgery. The number of articles on MIPD has been increasing annually. However, published reports often have complex research directions, and the focal points frequently change. Therefore, a comprehensive review and organization of the literature in this field is necessary.

Aim: To summarize current research, predict future hotspots and trends, and provide insights for MIPD development.

Methods: To conduct the study, the Web of Science Core Collection was searched for relevant articles. The analysis focused on the top 100 articles in the field. Two widely used bibliometric tools, CiteSpace and VOSviewer, were used to examine various aspects, including research directions, authors, countries, institutions, journals, and keywords.

Results: The top 100 articles were published between 2005 and 2022, with the majority originating from the United States (n = 51). Among the contributing institutions, Pancreas Center of the University of Chicago and the Health System of the University of Chicago had the highest number of publications (n = 17). In terms of individual authors, "Zeh HJ" and "Zureikat AH" led with 13 articles each. The high-frequency keywords in the literature encompassed three main areas: Surgical modality, perioperative outcomes, and the learning curve. These keywords were further categorized into seven primary clusters, with the largest being "laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy".

Conclusion: The most influential studies predominantly originate from the United States, and there is growing interest in robotic surgery. Despite MIPD's potential benefits, further research is required to address technical challenges and improve outcomes.

Keywords: Bibliometric analysis; Citation analysis; Laparoscopic surgery; Minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy; Robotic surgery.

Figure 1

Process for the analysis of 100 highly cited literature using bibliometric analysis.

Figure 2

Publication trends of articles in different directions in the top 100 most cited articles (top 100). MIPD: Minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy; LPD: Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy; RPD: Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Figure 3

Visualization networks of authors, countries, institutions, and journals for the top 100 most cited articles (top 100). A: Co-authorship network; B: Country collaboration network; C: Institution collaboration network; D: Dual-map overlay of journals.

Figure 4

Visualization networks of keywords for the top 100 most cited articles (top 100). A: Co-occurrence analysis graph; B: Keyword cluster map.

Figure 5

Visualization of keyword trends over time in the top 100 most cited articles (top 100). A: Keywords with the strongest citation bursts identified using CiteSpace, highlighting emerging research trends; B: Timeline graphs of different keyword clusters, illustrating the evolution and shifts in research focus over time.