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Robotic assisted (RA) retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) has grown in popularity as it offers decreased morbidity and faster recovery compared to the open technique. Proponents of open surgery raised concerns about the oncological fidelity of the RA approach for testicular tumors where complete resection is needed. In boys > 10 years with paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), RPLND is indicated for staging purposes only. In this population, the RA technique should provide its benefits without concerns for oncological compromise. We present an analysis of RA-RPLND for boys with paratesticular RMS. We queried our institution's prospectively collected database of pediatric robotic cases for patients undergoing RA-RPLND post-radical orchiectomy for paratesticular mass, confirmed by pathology as RMS. Demographic, surgical, follow-up, and oncological outcomes were evaluated between 2017 and 2023. Five patients underwent RA-RPLND for paratesticular RMS. The median age was 16.1 years (15-17), with median OR time of 456 min (357-508). No conversions to open occurred. Inpatient median total opioid use was 1.8 (0.4-2.7) morphine equivalent/kg. The median lymph node yield was 27 (8-44) and post-op length of stay was 3 days (2-5). The median time to initiating adjuvant chemotherapy was 10.5 days (7-13). One patient had complications: pneumothorax attributed to central line placement and chyle leak that resolved in 1 week with dietary restriction. Our series demonstrates the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the RA approach for RPLND in pediatric patients with paratesticular RMS. This is the most extensive case series currently in the literature and the only one exclusively done for paratesticular RMS., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) has recently been described in children < 1 year old. However, little data exist on robotic utilization in infants ≤ 6 months old, likely due to concerns for limited intraabdominal space and decreased distance between ports in this cohort. We hypothesized that the robotic approach can be successfully used for infants ≤ 6 months old. A prospectively collected database of patients undergoing urologic robotic surgery at our institution was reviewed. Patients ≤ 6 months and ≥ 4 kg were included. Patient demographics, intraoperative details, hospital length of stay, and complications were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were performed. Twelve patients ≤ 6 months old underwent urologic robotic surgery by three surgeons at our institution (2013-2019): pyeloplasty (6), ureteroureterostomy (4), heminephrectomy (1), and nephrectomy (1). Median age at surgery was 4.75 months (IQR 4, 6). Median weight was 7.09 kg (IQR 6.33, 7.78). Median console time was 105 min (IQR 86, 123). For all procedures, 8-mm robotic arm ports were used. No procedures were converted to open. Median post-operative hospital stay was 24 h (IQR). Febrile UTI was the only complication occurring within 30 days of surgery (n = 4, 33%; 7-20 days, Clavien grade 2). For those undergoing pyeloplasty or ureteroureterostomy (n = 10), postoperative ultrasound showed improved (n = 9) or stable hydronephrosis (n = 1). At a median follow-up of 19.73 months (IQR 4.27, 38.32), no patient required an unplanned secondary intervention. Robotic upper urinary tract surgery is feasible and safe in patients ≤ 6 months of age and can be performed successfully with the same technique as for older children., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)