Anesthesia for Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy - a Challenge for Anaesthesiologist

Mininimally invasive surgery has become one of the most popular ones over the last few decades due to many benefits. The advantages are minimal surgical incision, reduced blood loss, reduced postoperative pain, faster postoperative recovery, shorter hospital stay, lower morbidity and better outcomes compared to open surgery. The most common robotic procedures in urology are radical prostatectomies. In UHC Zagreb, since November 2019 until now, there have been more than 180 robotic assisted radical prostatectomies (RALP) using Senhance robotic system performed. As a procedure with many possible complications, it represents a challenge for anaesthesiologist. Some of the problems the anaesthesiologists have to face are related to limited patient access, possible difficulties connected with positioning, pneumoperitoneum, subcutaneous emphysema, possible airway oedema. Pneumoperitoneum has impact on almost every system: cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, gastrointestinal and other. Detailed understanding of physiological changes of RALP, with intraoperative impact on nearly every body system is ultimate. Careful preoperative evaluation and intraoperative conduction minimize the risk of complications, and help patients to reach full recovery in a very short time. Excellent outcomes are the result of individualized approach to the patient and good communication between team members.