Robotic Ureter Reimplantation After Urinary Diversion.

INTRODUCTION: Benign ureterointestinal anastomotic stricture (UIAS) is a recognized long-term complication following radical cystectomy with urinary diversion (UD). The incidence of UIAS following robotic-assisted radical cystectomy varies, with reported rates ranging from 6.5%-25.3%.1 Although endourologic treatments have been employed, their overall success rate is relatively low, ranging from 26%-50%. In contrast, open surgical revision has demonstrated higher success rates, between 80% and 91%.2,3 Given the morbidity associated with open surgery, there has been a shift toward minimally invasive approaches. The robotic approach offers a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery that is not inferior, with similar outcomes for UIAS reconstruction.4 In this video, we demonstrate a robotic technique for the revision of UIAS, which aims to combine the effectiveness of open surgery with the reduced morbidity of a minimally invasive approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2020-March 2023, 6 patients underwent surgery. The mean age was 62 years (range 49-68 years). Among these, 2 patients received conduits in open technique and 4 were provided with robotic neobladders. The strictures were located as follows: 2 on the left side, 2 on the right, and 2 on both sides. The average time to stricture formation in the series was 4.5 months. The case presented involves a 49-year-old man who developed a left ureteroileal anastomotic stricture (UIAS) 6 months following robot-assisted radical cystectomy and neobladder creation. The obstruction was managed initially with nephrostomy tube drainage. The surgical technique employed is demonstrated in a step-by-step manner. Standard Da Vinci surgical instruments were used. The patient was positioned in a 30° Trendelenburg position, with port placement similar to that in robotic prostatectomy. The pneumoperitoneum was established through a supraumbilical mini-laparotomy using the Hasson technique. Adhesions around the neobladder were carefully freed. Subsequently, the affected ureter and the stricture were identified and localized. This was achieved by intraluminal application of 10 mL of indocyanine green solution (2.5 mg/mL concentration) through the nephrostomy catheter. The ureter was mobilized as needed. The ureteral stricture was identified and then fully excised. To exclude any malignancy at the ureteral margin, a frozen section analysis was conducted. The ureter was then spatulated. Reanastomosis between the ureter and neobladder was performed using a continuous 4-0 Stratafix suture. A double-J ureteral catheter was inserted to secure the anastomosis, and the anastomosis was completed over this catheter. RESULTS: The mean operative time at the robotic console was 122 minutes, ranging from 80-160 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 42 mL, within a range of 50-100 mL. Intraoperative frozen sections revealed no evidence of malignancy in all cases. No postoperative complications exceeding Clavien-Dindo grade 3 were observed. Two patients were treated for symptomatic urinary tract infections. The median length of stay in the hospital was 4 days, with a range of 2-7 days. Median times for cystography with transurethral catheter removal and double-J catheter removal were 15 postoperative days (range: 12-27) and 23 postoperative days (range: 17-37), respectively. No recurrence of the condition was observed during a mean follow-up period of 23 months (range 6-40 months). CONCLUSION: The robotic approach represents a viable, minimally invasive alternative to conventional open surgery for the reconstruction of UIAS following urinary diversion. The surgical outcomes are comparable to those of open surgery, with the added benefits of a minimally invasive approach, including reduced blood loss and shorter hospital stays.

Reporting and grading of complications for intracorporeal robot-assisted radical cystectomy: an in-depth short-term morbidity assessment using the novel Comprehensive Complication Index®.

OBJECTIVE: To assess suitability of Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI®) vs. Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) to capture 30-day morbidity after robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 128 patients with bladder cancer (BCa) undergoing intracorporeal RARC with pelvic lymph node dissection between 2015 and 2021 were included in a retrospective bi-institutional study, which adhered to standardized reporting criteria. Thirty-day complications were captured according to a procedure-specific catalog. Each complication was graded by the CDC and the CCI®. Multivariable linear regression (MVA) was used to identify predictors of higher morbidity. RESULTS: 381 complications were identified in 118 patients (92%). 55 (43%), 43 (34%), and 20 (16%) suffered from CDC grade I-II, IIIa, and ≥ IIIb complications, respectively. 16 (13%), 27 (21%), and 2 patients (1.6%) were reoperated, readmitted, and died within 30 days, respectively. 31 patients (24%) were upgraded to most severe complication (CCI® ≥ 33.7) when calculating morbidity burden compared to corresponding CDC grade accounting only for the highest complication. In MVA, only age was a positive estimate (0.44; 95% CI = 0.03-0.86; p = 0.04) for increased cumulative morbidity. CONCLUSION: The CCI® estimates of 30-day morbidity after RARC were substantially higher compared to CDC alone. These measurements are a prerequisite to tailor patient counseling regarding surgical approach, urinary diversion, and comparability of results between institutions.

Impact of obesity on perioperative, functional and oncological outcomes after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy in a high-volume center.

OBJECTIVE: To compare surgical, oncological and functional outcomes between obese vs. normal-weight prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated with robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed 4555 consecutive RARP patients from a high-volume center 2008-2018. Analyses were restricted to normal-weight vs. obese patients (≥ 30 kg/m2). Multivariable cox regression analyses (MVA) assessed the effect of obesity on biochemical recurrence (BCR), metastatic progression (MP), erectile function and urinary continence recovery. Analyses were repeated after propensity score matching. RESULTS: Before matching, higher rates of pathological Gleason Grade group ≥ 4 (14 vs. 18%; p = 0.004) and pT3 stage (33 vs. 35%; p = 0.016) were observed in obese patients, with similar observations for surgery time, blood loss and 30-day wound- and surgical complication rates. For normal-weight vs. obese patients, BCR- and MP-free rates were 86 vs. 85% (p = 0.97) and 97.5 vs.97.8% (p = 0.8) at 48 months. Similarly, rates of erectile function at 36 months and urinary continence at 12 months were 56 vs. 49% (p = 0.012) and 88 vs. 85% (p = 0.003), respectively. Before and after propensity score matching, obesity had no effect on BCR or MP, but a negative effect on erectile function (matched HR 0.87, 95%CI 0.76-0.99; p = 0.029) and urinary continence recovery (matched HR 0.91, 95%CI 0.84-0.98; p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity did not represent a risk factor of BCR or MP after RARP despite higher rates of adverse pathological features. However, obesity was associated with higher risk of perioperative morbidity and impaired functional outcomes. Such information is integral for patient counselling. Thus, weight loss before RARP should be encouraged.