Predictors for trifecta achievement of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy in high-complexity tumors (Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical score ≥10).

INTRODUCTION: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is emerging as an effective treatment oncologically and functionally for clinically localized renal tumors. However, RAPN in high-complexity tumors with a Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical score ≥10 remains challenging. In this study, the feasibility of RAPN for high-complexity tumors was assessed. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 177 cases with clinically localized renal cell carcinoma who had undergone RAPN at our hospital from July 2010 to February 2018. They were assessed for perioperative parameters and trifecta achievement (ie, negative surgical margins, warm ischemia time <25 minutes, and no complications). RESULTS: Among the 177 cases who had undergone RAPN, 60 had high-complexity tumors, and 117 had non-high-complexity (ie, intermediate- or low-complexity) tumors. There were no significant differences in the operative and console times between the cohorts, but estimated intraoperative blood loss was much lower in the non-high-complexity group. Although the average warm ischemia time was less than 25 minutes in both groups, it was significantly shorter in the non-high-complexity group. Trifecta achievement rates significantly differed between the high- and non-high-complexity groups (68.3% vs 86.3%). Comparisons of four operative parameters (ie, BMI, tumor size, endophytic properties, and hilar tumor) using univariate analysis in the 60 high-complexity tumor cases showed that BMI and tumor size were independent factors (P = 0.05 and 0.018, respectively). In multivariate analysis, tumor size was the only factor directly associated with trifecta achievement (P = 0.029). CONCLUSION: The trifecta achievement rate was significantly lower in the high-complexity group. Only tumor size affected trifecta achievement during RAPN in cases with high-complexity tumors (Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical score ≥10).

Clinical and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with nerve sparing vs. non-nerve sparing for high-risk prostate cancer cases.

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is one of the most widely used procedures for localized prostate cancer (PCa). In the present study, the clinical and oncological outcomes of RARP with bilateral or unilateral nerve sparing (NS) for D'Amico high-risk PCa cases were assessed. Among the 767 cases who received RARP at Fujita Health University Hospital between August 2009 and December 2016, 230 high-risk PCa cases who were observed for >6 months comprised the retrospective study cohort. Bilateral NS was performed with the bilateral neurovascular bundle in eight, unilateral in 125 and none in 97 cases. Perioperative parameters [surgery time, console time, estimated blood loss, pathological stage, positive lymph node metastases [pN (+)], and surgical margin positivity] did not exhibit significant differences between the NS and non-NS cohorts. During a median follow-up time of 25 months, the 1- and 3-year biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival rates in the NS/non-NS cohorts were 84.4/86.0 and 72.7/75.0%, respectively. There were no significant differences identified between the two groups at each time period. According to multivariate analysis, the resection margin was an important factor for time to BCR, regardless of the NS technique used. The numbers of pads used daily at 3 and 6 months after RARP between the NS/non-NS cohorts were 1.1/1.5 and 0.6/1.0, respectively (P=0.045 and P=0.009), suggesting that the NS technique resulted in significantly improved outcomes regarding urinary continence recovery. In selected high-risk PCa cases, the NS technique resulted in equivalent oncological outcomes and improved urinary continence compared with the non-NS RARP group.