Midterm results of robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Robotic assistance simplifies laparoscopic procedures. We hypothesize that robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy is a rapid and safe procedure with satisfying short-term and midterm functional results. METHODS: After informed consent, we enrolled 101 consecutive patients undergoing sacrocolpopexy at Alfried Krupp Hospital, Essen, Germany. After a median follow-up of 22 months, we assessed midterm functional results as the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included surgical duration, blood loss, intraoperative complications, and postoperative complications. We described frequencies as counts (percent) and continuous data as median [interquartile range (Q1-Q3)] or mean [standard deviation (SD)], as appropriate. RESULTS: We enrolled 101 patients. The mean age was 69 years (SD 11); 75 women (74.3 %) had undergone previous abdominal surgery. Among the patients, 95 (94.1 %) presented with anterior vaginal wall prolapse Baden-Walker grade 2-3, 74 (73.3 %) vaginal vault prolapse, and 9 (8.9 %) concomitant rectocele. Fifty (50 %) patients underwent a modified Burch procedure in addition to sacrocolpopexy. The median surgical duration was 96 min (Q1-Q3 83-130). There were six (5.9 %) minor intraoperative complications but no conversions to open surgery. Postoperatively, we registered five (4.9 %) Clavien-Dindo grade I complications, three (3.0 %) grade II complications, and one (1.0 %) grade III complication. After a median follow-up of 22 months (Q1-Q3 12-49), the patients reported significant decreased impact of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) on quality of life as well as bother resulting from POP symptoms. The overall success rate, defined as none or minor impact of POP on quality of life, was 75 %. CONCLUSIONS: In this single-surgeon study, robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy was a safe and rapidly performed procedure that achieved good medium-term functional results.

Simultaneous en-bloc robot-assisted radical cystectomy and nephro-ureterectomy: technique description, outcomes, and literature summary.

The objectives of this study are to describe the surgical technique for simultaneous en-bloc robot-assisted radical cystectomy and nephro-ureterectomy, to report its surgical bench marks, and finally, to summarize the current evidence on the procedure. After written informed consent, we prospectively enrolled consecutive patients undergoing simultaneous en-bloc robot-assisted radical cystectomy and nephro-ureterectomy in a prospective institutional database. We performed all procedures with robotic assistance from the DaVinci Si-HD®, a four-arm robotic system. Endpoints included surgery duration, estimated intra-operative blood loss, resection margins, intra-, and post-operative complications. Furthermore, we describe oncological outcome at follow-up. We conducted six (54.4 %) right-sided and five (45.5 %) left-sided nephro-ureterectomies. Urinary diversion consisted in nine (81.2 %) ureterocutaneostomies and in two (18.8 %) ileum conduits. The median surgery duration was 287 min [interquartile range (Q1-Q3) 253-328], thereof 196-min console time (Q1-Q3 158-230). The median-estimated blood loss was 235 mL (Q1-Q3 200-262). We did not register any intra-operative complications or conversions to open surgery. Post-operatively, each one patient suffered a Clavien-Dindo grade 1 (paralytic ileus), grade 2 (blood transfusion), and grade 3 complication (port hernia). After a median follow-up of 7 months (Q1-Q3 4-25), we registered one recurrence, a metachronous transitional cell cancer of the contralateral kidney 24 months after the initial procedure. En-bloc robot-assisted radical cystectomy and nephro-ureterectomy was associated with limited procedure duration, minor blood loss and satisfying intra- and post-operative outcomes.