Does Advancing Technology Improve Outcomes? Comparison of the Da Vinci Standard/S/Si to the Xi Robotic Platforms During Robotic Nephroureterectomy.

INTRODUCTION: With the introduction of laparoscopy and now robotics, more patients are able to reap benefit from minimally invasive techniques during urologic surgery. With these advancing technologies, it is important to evaluate whether the outlay of hospital capital actually improves patient care. To date, there has been little literature regarding the impact of these advances on patient outcomes. In this article, we directly compare perioperative outcomes and hospital costs between the older da Vinci Standard/S/Si platform and the newer Xi robotic platform during nephroureterectomy. METHODS: A review of our robotic nephroureterectomy database between April 2009 and December 2017 identified 87 patients, 30 in group 1 (Xi) and 57 in group 2 (Standard/S/Si). Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative parameters as well as hospital costs were evaluated. Independent t-test was performed for continuous variables, while categorical variables were evaluated using chi-square tests or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups preoperatively. Operative time using the Xi was shorter, 184.4 vs 232.09 minutes (p = 0.0035). Other perioperative variables were similar. There was more lymphovascular invasion in group 2 (p = 0.0108), but there were higher stage tumors in group 1 (p < 0.0001). More patients underwent lymph node dissection in group 1 (p = 0.0186). Complications were similar between groups. Costs for anesthesia were less in group 1, which led to decreased total hospitalization costs (p < 0.001) Conclusion: Operative times were found to be less with the daVinci Xi, without any other significant difference in patient outcomes between the groups. Anesthesia and operating room cost were substantial factors in lowering the overall hospital costs. More multi-institutional studies with larger groups of patients are needed to determine if advancing technology really improves outcomes.

Cost effectiveness and robot-assisted urologic surgery: does it make dollars and sense?

INTRODUCTION: The introduction of the robotic surgical platform has led to distinct changes in practice patterns and the utilization of minimally invasive surgery in urology. While use of the robotic system is associated with improvements in perioperative outcomes such as estimated blood loss and hospital stay, there are significant fixed and variable costs with the purchase, maintenance and use of the robotics system that has led many authors to investigate the cost effectiveness of robotic urologic surgery. We sought to examine the best current available evidence for the cost effectiveness of robotic urologic surgery. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Comprehensive electronic literature searches were conducted without language restriction to identify reports of published studies within PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS and Web of Science. Relevant articles were examined and reference lists cross referenced to find additional pertinent publications. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: PubMed literature searches of "robot urology cost" (304 articles) "robotic prostatectomy cost" (215 articles), "robotic nephrectomy cost" (87 articles), "robotic cystectomy cost" (44 articles) and "robotic pyeloplasty cost" (41 articles) were initially reviewed in abstract form to find appropriate articles for inclusion. Given that robotic cystectomy (559 articles), robotic pyeloplasty (344 articles) robotic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (59 articles) are less frequently performed than robotic prostatectomy, all available articles published from January 1st 2000 until July 31st 2016 were reviewed for potential inclusion. After excluding duplicates, appropriate articles were pulled for full text review. 49 articles were used for the final analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The available literature on the cost effectiveness of robotic urologic surgery is somewhat limited by heterogeneity of research methods, local cost variations and methods for determining costs associated with surgical outcomes. The introduction of the robotic surgical platform has led to a dramatic change in the availability and utilization of laparoscopic surgery and is associated with both favorable perioperative outcomes as well as significantly greater fixed costs related to instrumentation and equipment expenses. Well-designed trials comparing open and robotic approaches in the contemporary era of widespread robotic adoption with quality of life and validated economic metrics will be necessary to provide evidence for continued use of this valuable technology.

Robotic Anatrophic Nephrolithotomy Utilizing Near-infrared Fluorescence Image-guidance: Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, and Long-term Monitoring (IDEAL) Stage 0 Animal Model Study.

OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility of robotic anatrophic nephrolithotomy (RANL) using near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) image-guidance for treating staghorn stones, in an in vivo stone surgery model. METHODS: We developed a novel technique of RANL in a preclinical setting following guidelines on safe surgical innovation from the Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, Long-term monitoring (IDEAL) collaborative. We performed 2 RANL procedures on 2 live Yorkshire porcine females (IDEAL stage 0 study). The robot was docked in the flank position and a mini-GelPOINT was placed periumbilically as an assistant port. A model staghorn "stone" was created in vivo by injecting low-viscosity DenMat precision material into the renal pelvis. NIRF image-guidance, following clamping of the posterior renal artery, was used to determine if an anatrophic plane could be identified. One procedure was assessed under cold ischemia, with ice-slush injected onto the renal surface via the mini-GelPOINT. RESULTS: Both porcine subjects underwent RANL successfully. Replica staghorn models could be created reliably (mean size 5.1 cm; solidification time 2-3 minutes). NIRF image-guidance afforded clear vascular demarcation for precise scoring of an anatrophic plane in both kidneys. The staghorn models were removed in toto through the anatrophic incision in both subjects. Mean blood loss was 160 cc. Mean console and ischemia times were 114 minutes and 34.5 minutes, respectively; ice-slush hypothermia led to a renal surface temperature of 15.4°C. CONCLUSION: In this IDEAL stage 0 preclinical study, we demonstrated that NIRF image-guidance is able to accurately identify the renal avascular plane, thus permitting an anatrophic approach for robotic excision of staghorn stones.

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: current status, techniques, and future directions.

Open partial nephrectomy for the treatment of small renal masses (SRMs) concerning for renal cell carcinoma has been increasingly utilized with the increased incidental detection of SRMs and the growing recognition of the benefits of renal preservation. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) is a minimally invasive technique that achieves comparable oncologic and improved morbidity outcomes when compared to the open procedure. However, LPN is a technically demanding procedure resulting in a long learning curve and a lack of widespread adoption. Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) overcomes many of the technical hurdles of the LPN and is now coming to the forefront for the minimally invasive surgical management of SRMs. To date, the short-term oncologic outcomes of RAPN have been comparable to the open operation while providing the improved morbidity outcomes of LPN. Although encouraging, we await the long-term oncologic results of this new and promising procedure. The current bottleneck is an issue of cost and reliance on a patient-side surgeon. Future developments in instrumentation, newer robots, cost reduction, more streamlined training, increased robotic experience, and adoption by more centers will lead to greater benefit for patients with SRMs requiring nephron-sparing surgery. This review will discuss techniques for RAPN and then delve into the current status of RAPN using parameters such as warm ischemia time, blood loss, hospital stay, oncological outcomes, complications, learning curve, and quality of life. There will be an exploration of potential disadvantages associated with RAPN followed by a look at evolving techniques in regard to this groundbreaking procedure.

Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy in 2010.

This article reviews the current status of robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with outcome analysis. The published English literature (PubMed) database was searched extensively for major publications and large series on RARP. The search was carried out over the preceding 3-year period. Selected series were then reviewed, summarized and analyzed for their salient features. A literature search yielded 19 major publications on RARP in the preceding 2 years. A review of the current RARP literature (2006-2009) of multi-institutional cases of RARP demonstrated a mean operating room time, blood loss, hospital stay, positive surgical margin rate and perioperative-complication rate of approximately 194 min, 196 ml, 1.43 days, 25.7% and 5.83 %, respectively (based on the analysis of data using central tendency measures [mean]). The overall potency and continence rates were 73.6 and 87.1%, respectively (based on analysis of the published and reported data). All RARP cases were performed with the use of da Vinci robotic system (Intuitive Surgical, CA, USA). It is expected that in 2010 close to 70% of radical prostatectomies in the USA will be performed with robotic assistance. The patient and surgeon appeal for RARP continues to expand exponentially. It seems pertinent to conclude that increasing experience with RARP may reduce the incidence of positive surgical margins and will improve the functional outcome, which is the challenge at this point in time. Although the early cancer control and intermediate follow-up on functional outcome with RARP appears to be convincing and favorable, the long-term ( approximately 10 years) data are still awaited.

A single institution experience of 141 cases of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with cost-reductive measures.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) has benefits in terms of cosmesis, less postoperative pain, hospital stay, and early recovery when compared with open radical nephrectomy. One of the major points of concern of this surgery, especially in developing countries, is the additional cost because of the disposable instruments. We present our experience of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with cost-reductive techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 1998 to 2008, 141 patients undergoing cost-reductive LRN using minimal disposable equipment for clinically localized renal tumors were included in the study. Clinical data, including operative and postoperative management and follow-up, were recorded and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The transperitoneal and retroperitoneal laparoscopic techniques were performed in 46.8% and 53.2 %, respectively. Overall, the mean operative time was 139.5 min, mean estimated blood loss was 192.3 mL, mean analgesic requirement was 12.69 mg morphine equivalent, and mean hospital stay was 3.6 days. There were eight conversions to open surgery. There were 10 major and 12 minor complications with no deaths. Mean follow-up was 54.2 months with no local recurrence. There were 17 distal recurrences with no port site metastasis. The cost of LRN, using the cost-reductive techniques, was reduced by approximately US $1,900 per case. CONCLUSIONS: Cost-reductive LRN is feasible for the management of clinically localized renal tumors. It provides all the advantages of laparoscopy and can be performed with minimal additional cost, making it more acceptable to the patients, especially in developing countries.

Minimally invasive treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction: optimizing outcomes with concomitant cost reduction.

With the seemingly exponential increase in the use of minimally invasive techniques in urology, cost-benefit comparisons will continue to play a major part in establishing services and in improving those that already exist. The management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction is a focus of significant attention. An effective way of optimizing the economy of management is to understand the implications in terms of the success of each mode of treatment. Subsequently, costing models should be developed and applied in large-scale multicenter studies with the aid of health economists. The long-term benefits can then be assessed by also including patient's perceived quality of life. Economic assessment will not be enough to promote cost-effective practices. The take-up of any techniques will always be influenced not only by patient preference and surgeon expertise but also, perhaps ironically, by the way hospitals and surgeons are remunerated. In addition, the impact of the time taken to train a surgeon to carry out laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty competently may play a significant role. Until these issues are resolved, definitive recommendation for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction will continue to be made on an individual basis.