Robot-assisted intracorporeal orthotopic bladder substitution after radical cystectomy: perioperative morbidity and oncological outcomes - a single-institution experience.

OBJECTIVE: To report a single-institution experience with totally intracorporeal neobladder urinary diversion (UD) after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy (RARC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 158 patients underwent totally intracorporeal neobladder UD after RARC between 2003 and 2016. Patient demographics, intraoperative and pathological data, 30- and 90-day perioperative mortality and complications were recorded. Complications were classified according to the modified Clavien-Dindo classification. The 5-year overall (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates were estimated by Kaplan-Meier plots. RESULTS: Most of the patients were male (84%) and had clinical T Stage ≤2 (87%). The mean operation time was 359 (SD ±98) min, with a median (range) estimated blood loss of 300 (50-2200) mL. Most of the men (86%) received a nerve-sparing procedure and 38% of the females an organ-sparing approach. A lymph node dissection was performed in 156 (99%) patients, with a median (range) yield of 23 (7-48) nodes. Conversion to open surgery occurred in five patients (3%). We recorded negative margins in 156 patients (99%). The median (range) follow-up was 34 (1-170) months, with 30- and 90-day mortality rates of 0%. Clavien-Dindo Grade III-IV complications occurred in 29 of 158 (18%) patients at 30-days and in eight of 158 (5%) between 30-90 days, resulting into a 90-day overall high-grade complication rate of 23%. The unadjusted estimated 5-years recurrence-free survival, CSS and OS rates were 70%, 72%, and 71%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In our present series the complication and oncological results were similar to open RC series, suggesting that RARC followed by totally intracorporeal neobladder UD is a safe and feasible alternative.

Evolution of cystectomy care over an 11-year period in a high-volume tertiary referral centre.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the evolution in radical cystectomy (RC) care over 11 years at a referral centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical data of patients undergoing either open RC (ORC) or robot-assisted RC (RARC) for cT1-4aN0M0 bladder cancer (BCa) at our centre between January 2006 and December 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. Crude and propensity score-weighted log-binomial regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between pre- and peri-operative variables and the risk of reoperation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death <90 days after RC. RESULTS: A total of 814 patients were considered. The percentage of RARCs performed increased (from 10% to 100%) between 2006 and 2013. Overall, 29% of the patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (12-37% from 2006 to 2016). Despite no differences in terms of operating time, pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) was more commonly attempted during RARC and extended PLND was more frequently performed in the RARC group (72% vs 19%; P < 0.001). Ileal conduit was the preferred urinary diversion in both groups, and more patients in the RARC group underwent neobladder construction (34% vs 14%; P < 0.001). The overall rates of re-intervention, ICU admission and death within 90 days of RC were 8.9%, 5.4% and 2.9%, respectively. On crude analysis, RARC was associated with a reduced risk of ICU admission (relative risk [RR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.77; P = 0.005), reintervention (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37-0.90; P = 0.015) and death (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.85; P = 0.020); however, these risk reductions were not statistically significant on weighted analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of RARC has coincided with a reduction in the rate of ICU admission, reoperation and death within 90 days of surgery, without compromising operating time, PLND extent or neobladder utilization.

Enhanced recovery protocols (ERP) in robotic cystectomy surgery. Review of current status and trends.

Open radical cystectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and urinary diversion is associated with a high complication rate. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy is increasingly performed in many urologic surgical departments in an effort to reduce surgical stress and decrease perioperative morbidity. Robotic cystectomy survival studies demonstrate similar oncologic outcomes compared to the open procedure. Enhanced recovery protocols (ERP) after major surgery are multimodal perioperative interventions to reduce surgical stress, complications, and patient convalescence. Evidence for different ERP interventions are currently mainly from colorectal surgery and recently adapted to major urologic operations including cystectomy. Guidelines for perioperative care after open radical cystectomy for bladder cancer were recently published, but these recommendations may differ when considering a robotic approach. Therefore, we look at the current evidence for ERP in both open and robotic radical cystectomy and the potential for improving ERPs in robotic cystectomy by utilizing a totally intracorporeal robotic cystectomy approach. We also present the Karolinska ERP currently utilized in totally intracorporeal robotic cystectomy.

Robotic intracorporeal orthotopic neobladder during radical cystectomy in 132 patients.

PURPOSE: We present a 2-institution experience with completely intracorporeal robotic orthotopic ileal neobladder after radical cystectomy in 132 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Established open surgical techniques were duplicated robotically with all neobladders suture constructed intracorporeally in a globular configuration. Nerve sparing was performed in 56% of males. Lymphadenectomy was extended (up to aortic bifurcation in 51, 44%) and superextended (up to the inferior mesenteric artery in 20, 17%). Ureteroileal anastomoses were Wallace-type (86, 65%) or Bricker-type (46, 35%). The learning curve at each institution was assessed using chronological subgroups and by trends across the entire cohort. Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively queried. RESULTS: Mean operating time was 7.6 hours (range 4.4 to 13), blood loss was 430 cc (range 50 to 2,200) and hospital stay was 11 days (median 8, range 3 to 78). Clavien grade I, II, III, IV and V complications within 30 days were 7%, 25%, 13%, 2% and 0%, respectively, and between 30 and 90 days were 5%, 9%, 11%, 1% and 2%, respectively. Mean nodal yield was 29 (range 7 to 164) and the node positivity rate was 17%. Operative time, blood loss, hospital stay and prevalence of late complications improved with experience. During a mean followup of 2.1 years (range 0.1 to 9.8) cancer recurred in 20 patients (15%). Five-year overall, cancer specific and recurrence-free survival was 72%, 72% and 71%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a refined technique of robotic intracorporeal orthotopic neobladder diversion, duplicating open principles. Operative efficiency and outcomes improved with experience. Going forward, we propose a prospective randomized comparison between open and robotic intracorporeal neobladder surgery.

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with intracorporeal neobladder - what is the effect of the learning curve on outcomes?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the learning curve on operative, postoperative, and pathological outcomes of the first 67 totally intracorporeal robot-assisted radical cystectomies (RARCs) with neobladders performed by two lead surgeons at Karolinska University Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 2003 and October 2012, 67 patients (61 men and six women) underwent RARC with orthotopic urinary diversion by two main surgeons. Data were collected prospectively on patient demographics, peri- and postoperative outcomes including operation times, conversion rates, blood loss, complication rates, pathological data and length of stay (LOS) for these 67 consecutive patients. The two surgeons operated on 47 and 20 patients, respectively. The patients were divided into sequential groups of 10 in each individual surgeon's series and assessed for effect of the learning curve. RESULTS: Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were similar in both surgeons' groups. The overall total operation times trended down in both surgeons' series from a median time of 565 min in the first group of 10 cases, to a median of 345 min in the last group for surgeon A (P < 0.001) and 413 to 385 min for surgeon B (not statistically significant). Risk of conversion to open surgery also decreased with a 30% conversion rate in the first group to zero in latter groups (P < 0.01). Overall complications decreased as the learning curve progressed from 70% in the first group to 30% in the later groups (P < 0.05), although major complications were not statistically different when compared between the groups. Patient demographics did not change over time. The mean estimated blood loss was unchanged across groups with increasing experience. The pathological staging, mean total lymph node yield and number of positive margins were also unchanged across groups. There was a decrease in LOS from a mean of 19 days in the first group to a mean (range) of 9 (4-78) days in the later groups, although the median LOS was unchanged and therefore not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Totally intracorporeal RARC with intracorporeal neobladder is a complex procedure, but it can be performed safely, with a structured approach, at a high-volume established robotic surgery centre without compromising perioperative and pathological outcomes during the learning curve for surgeons. An experienced robotic team and mentor can impact the learning curve of a new surgeon in the same centre resulting in decreased operation times early in their personal series, reducing conversion rates and complication rates.

Ureteric stricture rates and management after robot-assisted radical cystectomy: a single-centre observational study.

OBJECTIVE: Benign ureterointestinal anastomosis (BUIA) stricture is a recognized complication after open radical cystectomy. The evidence for stricture rates following robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) is limited. This article reports stricture rates from a single high-volume RARC centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 2003 and December 2015, 371 patients underwent RARC with a totally intracorporeal urinary diversion. All patients received a ureteric anastomosis utilizing the 'Wallace plate' with a running suture technique. Monofilament suture was used in the first 81 patients (22%) and a barbed suture (Quill™) in the remaining 290 patients (78%). RESULTS: Median follow-up was 33 months and minimum follow-up was 7.9 months. The median time to stricture formation was 165 days (range 10-495 days). Twenty-four patients (6.5%) developed BUIA strictures. Six of 81 patients (7.4%) in the monofilament group and 18 of 290 (6.2%) in the barbed suture group developed strictures (p = .22). Fifteen patients (63%) had a stricture on the left side, seven (29%) on the right side and two patients (8%) developed bilateral ureteric strictures (p = .002). Strictures occurred in 11 of 131 patients (8.3%) with an orthotopic neobladder and 13 of 240 (5.4%) with an ileal-conduit urinary diversion (p = .17). CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of ureteric strictures is low in patients undergoing RARC with totally intracorporeal urinary diversion. Strictures were more common on the left side, which has been described in open series and is probably related to the increased mobilization on the left side required to cross the ureter to the right side.

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy: description of an evolved approach to radical cystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although open radical cystectomy (ORC) remains the gold standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) continues to gain wider acceptance. In this article, we focus on the steps of RARC, describing our approach, which has been developed over the past 10 yr. Totally intracorporeal RARC aims to offer the benefits of a complete minimally invasive approach while replicating the oncologic outcomes of open surgery. OBJECTIVE: We report our outcomes of a totally intracorporeal RARC procedure, describing step by step our technique and highlighting the variations on this standard template of nerve-sparing and female organ-preserving approaches in men and women. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Between December 2003 and October 2012, a total of 113 patients (94 male and 19 female) underwent totally intracorporeal RARC. SURGICAL PROCEDURE: We performed RARC, extended pelvic lymph node dissection, and a totally intracorporeal urinary diversion (UD) in all patients. In the accompanying video, we focus on the standard template for RARC, also describing nerve-sparing and female organ-preserving approaches. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Complications and oncologic outcomes are reported, including overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: RARC with intracorporeal UD was performed in 113 patients. Mean age was 64 yr (range: 37-84). Forty-three patients underwent intracorporeal ileal conduit, and 70 had intracorporeal neobladder. On surgical pathology, 48% of patients had ≤ pT1 disease, 27% had pT2 disease, 13% had pT3 disease, and 12% had pT4 disease. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 21 (range: 0-57). Twenty percent of patients had lymph node-positive disease. Positive surgical margins occurred in six cases (5.3%). Median follow-up was 25 mo (range: 3-107). We recorded a total of 70 early complications (0-30 d) in 54 patients (47.8%), with 37 patients (32.7%) having Clavien grade ≥ 3. Thirty-six late complications (>30 d) were recorded in 30 patients (26.5%), with 20 patients (17.7%) having Clavien grade ≥ 3. One patient (0.9%) died within 90 days of operation from pulmonary embolism. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, CSS was 81% at 3 yr and 67% at 5 yr. CONCLUSIONS: Our structured approach to RARC has enabled us to develop this complex service while maintaining patient outcomes and complication rates comparable with ORC series. Our results demonstrate acceptable oncologic outcomes and encouraging long-term CSS rates.

Oncologic, functional, and complications outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy with totally intracorporeal neobladder diversion.

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with totally intracorporeal neobladder diversion is a complex procedure that has been reported with good outcomes in small series. OBJECTIVE: To present complications and oncologic and functional outcomes of this procedure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Between 2003 and 2012 in a tertiary referral center, 70 patients were operated on by two experienced robotic surgeons. Data were collected prospectively and reviewed retrospectively. INTERVENTION: RARC with totally intracorporeal modified Studer ileal neobladder formation. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The overall outcome of RARC with a totally intracorporeal neobladder was presented by assessing (1) surgical margins, (2) recurrence or cancer-specific death at 24 mo, (3) 30-d and 90-d complications graded according to the modified Clavien-Dindo system, (4) daytime and nighttime continence (no or one pad per day) at 6 and 12 mo, and (5) satisfactory sexual activity or potency at 6 mo and 12 mo. Survival rates were estimated by Kaplan-Meier plots. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Median follow-up of the cohort was 30.3 mo (interquartile range: 12.7-35.6). We recorded negative margins in 69 of 70 patients (98.6%). Clavien 3-5 complications occurred in 22 of 70 patients (31.4%) at 30 d and 13 of 70 (18.6%) at >30 d. At 90 d, the overall complication rate was 58.5%. Clavien <3 and Clavien ≥3 complications were recorded in 15 of 70 patients (21.4%) and 26 of 70 (37.1%), respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimates for recurrence-free, cancer-specific, and overall survival at 24 mo were 80.7%, 88.9%, and 88.9%, respectively. Daytime continence and satisfactory sexual function or potency at 12 mo ranged between 70% and 90% in both men and women. Limitations of this study include its retrospective design, selection bias due to the learning curve phase, and missing data. CONCLUSIONS: In this expert center for RARC, outcomes after RARC with totally intracorporeal neobladder diversion appear satisfactory and in line with contemporary open series.