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Objective: To evaluate the perioperative complications of single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (SP-RARP)., Patients and Methods: A retrospective review was performed on the prospectively maintained, Institutional Review Board-approved, multi-institutional Single-Port Advanced Research Consortium (SPARC) database. A total of 1103 patients were identified who underwent three different approaches of SP-RARP between 2019 and 2022 using the purpose-built SP robotic platform. In addition to baseline clinical, perioperative outcomes, this study comprehensively analysed for any evidence of intraoperative complication, as well as postoperative complication and readmission within 90 days of the respective surgery., Results: Of the 244, 712, and 147 patients who underwent transperitoneal, extraperitoneal, and transvesical SP-RARP, respectively, intraoperative complications were noted in five patients (0.4%), all of which occurred during the transperitoneal approach. Two patients had bowel serosal tears, two had posterior button-holing of the bladder necessitating repair, and one patient had an obturator nerve injury. Postoperative complications were noted in 143 patients (13%) with major complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade ≥III) only identified in 3.7% of the total cohort. The most common complications were lymphocele (3.9%), acute urinary retention (2%), and urinary tract infection (1.9%). The 90-day re-admission rate was 3.9%., Conclusion: The SP-RARP is a safe and effective procedure with low complication and readmission rates regardless of the approach. These results are comparable to current multi-port RARP literature., (© 2023 BJU International.)

Objectives: To assess the prognostic ability of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) as a predictor of overall survival (OS) using a large North American cohort., Patients and Methods: Our cohort included 5940 patients with clinical M0 UTUC who underwent a radical nephroureterectomy (RNU), between 2010 and 2016, within the National Cancer Database. The main variable of interest was LVI status, and its interaction with pathological nodal (pN) status. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to depict the OS also stratifying patients on LVI status. Cox regression analysis tested the impact of LVI status on OS after accounting for the available covariates., Results: The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age at diagnosis was 71 (63-78) years and most patients had pathological T1 stage disease (48.6%). Nodal status was pN0, pN1 and pNx in 45.8%, 6.3% and 47.9%, respectively. Overall, 22.1% had LVI. The median (IQR) follow-up time was 32.6 (16.0-53.3) months. At the 5-year postoperative follow-up, the estimated OS rate was 28% in patients with LVI vs 66% in those without LVI (P < 0.001). When patients were stratified based on nodal status those rates were 32% vs 68% in pN0 patients (P < 0.001), 23% vs 30% in pN1 patients (P = 0.8), and 28% vs 65% in pNx patients (P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, the presence of LVI was associated with less favourable OS (hazard ratio 1.79, 95% confidence interval 1.60-1.99; P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Our study assessed the impact of LVI on OS in patients with UTUC in a large North American nationwide cohort. Our series, as the largest to date, indicate that LVI is associated with less favourable survival outcomes in patients with UTUC after RNU, and this variable could be used in counselling patients about their prognosis and might be a useful tool for future trials to risk-stratify patients., (© 2023 BJU International.)

Objective: To predict intra-operative (IOEs) and postoperative events (POEs) consequential to the derailment of the ideal clinical course of patient recovery., Materials and Methods: The Vattikuti Collective Quality Initiative is a multi-institutional dataset of patients who underwent robot-assisted partial nephectomy for kidney tumours. Machine-learning (ML) models were constructed to predict IOEs and POEs using logistic regression, random forest and neural networks. The models to predict IOEs used patient demographics and preoperative data. In addition to these, intra-operative data were used to predict POEs. Performance on the test dataset was assessed using area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) and area under the precision-recall curve (PR-AUC)., Results: The rates of IOEs and POEs were 5.62% and 20.98%, respectively. Models for predicting IOEs were constructed using data from 1690 patients and 38 variables; the best model had an AUC-ROC of 0.858 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.762, 0.936) and a PR-AUC of 0.590 (95% CI 0.400, 0.759). Models for predicting POEs were trained using data from 1406 patients and 59 variables; the best model had an AUC-ROC of 0.875 (95% CI 0.834, 0.913) and a PR-AUC 0.706 (95% CI, 0.610, 0.790)., Conclusions: The performance of the ML models in the present study was encouraging. Further validation in a multi-institutional clinical setting with larger datasets would be necessary to establish their clinical value. ML models can be used to predict significant events during and after surgery with good accuracy, paving the way for application in clinical practice to predict and intervene at an opportune time to avert complications and improve patient outcomes., (© 2020 The Authors BJU International © 2020 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: To analyse the outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in patients with a solitary kidney in a large multi-institutional database., Patients and Methods: In all, 2755 patients in the Vattikuti Collective Quality Initiative database underwent RAPN by 22 surgeons at 14 centres in nine countries. Of these patients, 74 underwent RAPN with a solitary kidney between 2007 and 2016. We retrospectively analysed the functional and oncological outcomes of these 74 patients. A 'trifecta' of outcomes was assessed, with trifecta defined as a warm ischaemia time (WIT) of <20 min, negative surgical margins, and no complications intraoperatively or within 3 months of RAPN., Results: All 74 patients underwent RAPN successfully with one conversion to radical nephrectomy. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) operative time was 180 (142-230) min. Early unclamping was used in 11 (14.9%) patients and zero ischaemia was used in 12 (16.2%). Trifecta outcomes were achieved in 38 of 66 patients (57.6%). The median (IQR) WIT was 15.5 (8.75-20.0) min for the entire cohort. The overall complication rate was 24.1% and the rate of Clavien-Dindo grade ≤II complications was 16.3%. Positive surgical margins were present in four cases (5.4%). The median (IQR) follow-up was 10.5 (2.12-24.0) months. The median drop in estimated glomerular filtration rate at 3 months was 7.0 mL/min/1.72 m 2 (11.01%)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that RAPN is a safe and effective treatment option for select renal tumours in solitary kidneys in terms of a trifecta of negative surgical margins, WIT of <20 min, and low operative and perioperative morbidity., (© 2017 The Authors BJU International © 2017 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy RAPN after major prior abdominal surgery (PAS) using a large multicentre database., Patients and Methods: We identified 1 686 RAPN from five academic centres between 2006 and 2014. In all, 216 patients had previously undergone major PAS, defined as having an open upper midline/ipsilateral incision. Perioperative outcomes were compared with those 1 470 patients who had had no major PAS. The chi-squared test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used for categorical and continuous variables, respectively., Results: There was no statistically significant difference in Charlson comorbidity index, tumour size, R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score or preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between the groups. Age and body mass index were higher in patients with PAS. The PAS group had a higher estimated blood loss (EBL) but this did not lead to a higher transfusion rate. A retroperitoneal approach was used more often in patients with major PAS (11.2 vs 5.4%), although this group did not have a higher percentage of posterior tumours (38.8 vs 43.3%, P = 0.286). Operative time, warm ischaemia time, length of stay, positive surgical margin, percentage change in eGFR, and perioperative complications were not significantly different between the groups., Conclusions: RAPN in patients with major PAS is safe and feasible, with increased EBL but no increased rate of transfusion. Patients with major PAS had almost twice the likelihood of having a retroperitoneal approach., (© 2016 The Authors BJU International © 2016 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in cystic tumours, analysing a large, multi-institutional, retrospective series of RAPN, as limited data are available about the outcome of RAPN in cystic tumours., Patients and Methods: We evaluated 465 patients who received RAPN for either cystic or solid tumours from 2010 to 2013 and included in the multi-institutional, retrospective Vattikuti Global Quality Initiative in Robotic Urologic Surgery (GQI-RUS) database. Univariable and multivariable linear and logistic regression models addressed the association of cystic tumours with perioperative outcomes., Results: In all, 54 (12%) tumours were cystic. Cystic tumours were associated with significantly lower operative time (t -3.9; P < 0.001), once adjusted for the effect of covariates, whereas blood loss and warm ischaemia time were similar. Postoperative any grade complications were recorded in 66 solid (16%) and nine cystic (17%) tumours (P = 0.08). In multivariable analysis, cystic tumours were not associated with a significantly lower risk of any grade postoperative complications [odds ratio (OR) 0.9; P = 0.8]. Similarly, presence of tumours with cystic features was not associated with a significantly different risk of high-grade postoperative complications (OR 2.2; P = 0.1). Prevalence of cancer histology and positive surgical margin rates were similar in cystic and solid tumours. Cystic tumours were not associated with significantly different postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (t 0.4; P = 0.7), once adjusted for the effect of covariates., Conclusions: RAPN can be performed in cystic renal tumours with perioperative, pathological, and functional outcomes similar to those achievable in solid tumours., (© 2015 The Authors BJU International © 2015 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To compare the perioperative outcomes of robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) with laparoscopic PN (LPN) performed for small renal masses (SRMs), in a large multi-institutional series and to define a new composite outcome measure, termed 'optimal outcome' for the RPN group., Patients and Methods: Retrospective review of 2392 consecutive cases of RPN and LPN performed in five high-volume centres from 2004 to mid-2013. We limited our study to SRMs and cases performed by surgeons with significant expertise with the technique. The Trifecta was defined as negative surgical margin, zero perioperative complications and a warm ischaemia time of ≤25 min. The 'optimal outcome' was defined as achievement of Trifecta with addition of 90% estimated glomerular filtration rate preservation and no chronic kidney disease stage upgrading. Univariable and multivariable analysis were used to identify factors predicting Trifecta and 'optimal outcome' achievement., Results: In all, 1185 RPN and 646 LPN met our inclusion criteria. Patients in the RPN group were older and had a higher median Charlson comorbidity index and higher R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score. The RPN group had lower warm ischaemia time (18 vs 26 min), overall complication rate (16.2% vs 25.9%), and positive surgical margin rate (3.2% vs. 9.7%). There was a significantly higher Trifecta rate for RPN (70% vs 33%) and the rate of achievement of 'optimal outcome' for the RPN group was 38.5%., Conclusions: In this large multi-institutional series RPN was superior to LPN for perioperative surgical outcomes measured by Trifecta. Patients in the RPN group had better outcomes for all three components of Trifecta compared with their LPN counterparts. Our more strict definition for 'optimal outcome' might be a better tool for assessing perioperative and functional outcomes after minimally invasive PN. This tool needs to be externally validated., (© 2014 The Authors. BJU International © 2014 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To describe a step-by-step guide for successful implementation of the retroperitoneal approach to robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patient is placed in the flank position and the table fully flexed to increase the space between the 12th rib and iliac crest. Access to the retroperitoneal space is obtained using a balloon-dilating device. Ports include a 12-mm camera port, two 8-mm robotic ports and a 12-mm assistant port placed in the anterior axillary line cephalad to the anterior superior iliac spine, and 7-8 cm caudal to the ipsilateral robotic port., Results: Positioning and port placement strategies for successful technique include: (i) Docking robot directly over the patient's head parallel to the spine; (ii) incision for camera port ≈1.9 cm (1 fingerbreadth) above the iliac crest, lateral to the triangle of Petit; (iii) Seldinger technique insertion of kidney-shaped balloon dilator into retroperitoneal space; (iv) Maximising distance between all ports; (v) Ensuring camera arm is placed in the outer part of the 'sweet spot'., Conclusion: The retroperitoneal approach to RPN permits direct access to the renal hilum, no need for bowel mobilisation and excellent visualisation of posteriorly located tumours., (© 2014 The Authors. BJU International © 2014 BJU International.)

Objectives: To report our experience and describe our technique of robotic nephrectomy., Patients and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 42 patients who underwent robotic nephrectomy at our institution from January 2004 to March 2008. Variables assessed included patient age, body mass index, operative duration, estimated blood loss (EBL), complications, hospital stay, analgesia requirements and specimen pathology. Radical nephrectomy (RN) was performed for suspected malignant disease and simple nephrectomy (SN) was performed for benign disease., Results: In all, 42 patients with a mean (range) age of 59.4 (17-38) years, underwent robotic nephrectomy (RN 35, SN seven) using a transperitoneal (39) or retroperitoneal (three) approach. The mean operative console time was 158 min, mean EBL was 223 mL, mean tumour size was 5.1 cm, and the mean hospital stay was 2.4 days. Renal hilar vessels were controlled using robotic suture ligation (25), robotic haemolock clips (12), or laparoscopic staplers (five). No patients required open conversion. One morbidly obese patient developed a wound dehiscience (complication rate 2.6%). On final tumour pathology, the RN specimens included 34 renal cell carcinomas (clear cell 23, papillary nine, chromophobe two) and an oncocytoma. The SN specimens showed chronic xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (four) and atrophic kidneys (three). All surgical margins were negative for malignancy with no evidence of tumour recurrence at a mean (range) follow-up of 15.7 (1-51) months., Conclusions: Robotic nephrectomy is a safe and feasible option for minimally invasive surgical removal of the kidney for benign and malignant conditions and can be performed through a transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of combined upper and lower urinary tract robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) during one operative session., Materials and Methods: We describe strategies for port placement and the use of the new da Vinci S surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA), equipped with a fourth arm, for concurrent surgeries in a porcine model and in humans within one operative session. We studied various schemes of port placement, patient positioning and robotic arm manoeuvring while doing concurrent ipsilateral upper and lower urinary tract surgery on six pigs. The operative times and estimated blood loss were recorded prospectively. Qualitative data such as robotic arm ergonomics, advantages and disadvantages of various port placement strategies were noted. During the various surgical exercises, particular attention was given to the extent and the limits of instrument arm reach and mobility of the various port-placement schemes. These concepts for port placement and patient positioning were then further evaluated in a cadaver followed by demonstration of feasibility by performing a robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RAL) right nephroureterectomy in a patient., Results: We describe a four-port 'baseball diamond' strategy to allow instrument access to the entire ipsilateral urinary tract in one operating session without repositioning the patient and re-docking the robot. Furthermore, if additional instrument length is required to reach the deep pelvis, we describe a novel 'pivoting triangle' manoeuvre that incorporates the fourth arm and allows dual-port cannulation and lens telescoping., Conclusion: Single session, concurrent multiple quadrant RALS is facilitated by using the da Vinci S surgical system with a 'baseball diamond' port-placement strategy.