Single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: To provide a comprehensive update on the different techniques and outcomes of contemporary Single-Port (SP) Robotic Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) approaches. METHODS: A literature review was performed to identify cohort studies that have utilized the purpose-built SP robotic platform (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, California) for RARP. All published approaches of SP-RARP were included in our review. Baseline clinical, perioperative, and postoperative oncological and functional outcomes were collected from the included studies. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies involving 1159 patients were identified. To date, five approaches of SP-RARP have been described, namely Transperitoneal, Extraperitoneal, Retzius-Sparing, Transperineal, and Transvesical. The surgical steps and clinical outcomes of the aforementioned approaches were discussed. While operating times were still faster in the Transperitoneal and Extraperitoneal cohorts, the novel and more regionalized Transvesical approach allowed for radical prostatectomy to be pursued in more patients with previous abdominal surgeries and contributed to significantly improved postoperative outcomes, including the earlier return of urinary continence and with most patients being discharged on the same day without any opioids. CONCLUSION: Based on the existing literature, the introduction of SP-RARP not only enriched the repertoire of minimally-invasive surgical treatment options for prostate cancer but also provided the opportunity for urologists to develop new techniques that can improve perioperative outcomes and postoperative quality of life. Given the limited number of patients and heterogeneity in the patient selection and reporting of postoperative outcomes, further research remains necessary to better understand the different benefits and improve patient selection algorithms for the different techniques.

Complications of single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: multi-institutional analysis from the Single-Port Advanced Research Consortium (SPARC).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perioperative complications of single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (SP-RARP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on the prospectively maintained, Institutional Review Board-approved, multi-institutional Single-Port Advanced Research Consortium (SPARC) database. A total of 1103 patients were identified who underwent three different approaches of SP-RARP between 2019 and 2022 using the purpose-built SP robotic platform. In addition to baseline clinical, perioperative outcomes, this study comprehensively analysed for any evidence of intraoperative complication, as well as postoperative complication and readmission within 90 days of the respective surgery. RESULTS: Of the 244, 712, and 147 patients who underwent transperitoneal, extraperitoneal, and transvesical SP-RARP, respectively, intraoperative complications were noted in five patients (0.4%), all of which occurred during the transperitoneal approach. Two patients had bowel serosal tears, two had posterior button-holing of the bladder necessitating repair, and one patient had an obturator nerve injury. Postoperative complications were noted in 143 patients (13%) with major complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade ≥III) only identified in 3.7% of the total cohort. The most common complications were lymphocele (3.9%), acute urinary retention (2%), and urinary tract infection (1.9%). The 90-day re-admission rate was 3.9%. CONCLUSION: The SP-RARP is a safe and effective procedure with low complication and readmission rates regardless of the approach. These results are comparable to current multi-port RARP literature.

Current urological applications of the Hugo™ RAS system.

PURPOSE: To provide an update on the diverse, contemporary urological applications of the Hugo™ RAS system. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify studies that described the clinical applications of the Hugo™ RAS system in Urology. The Hugo™ RAS is a new multi-modular robotic platform created by Medtronic, which offered new innovations, including an open surgical console and individual modular and extendable robotic arms that come in their own movable platforms. Since obtaining regulatory approval in Europe in October 2021, the novel platform has been increasingly used in various urologic and gynecologic procedures. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies were included, which involved 176 patients who underwent varying urological procedures. These included radical and simple prostatectomy, partial nephrectomy, radical and simple nephrectomy, ureterolithotomy, ureteral reimplant, pyeloplasty, and adrenalectomy. The different docking configurations, operating room set-ups, and early perioperative outcomes were described for the respective procedure. CONCLUSION: Based on the existing literature, the Hugo™ RAS system can be safely and effectively utilized for various urological procedures. The novel technology provided additional value in enriching the repertoire of urological minimally invasive surgical options. Further research with larger cohort of patients will be required to better refine the operating techniques and understand the perioperative outcomes of the Hugo™ RAS, especially when compared to other robotic surgical platforms.

Perioperative Complications of Single-Port and Multiport Robotic Radical Prostatectomy: A Single Institutional Comparison Analysis.

Background: Following its introduction in 2018, the Single-Port (SP) robotic platform has been increasingly utilized for various approaches of robotic radical prostatectomy (RARP). Despite the demonstrable benefits in enhancing postoperative outcomes, there has been limited evidence on its perioperative morbidity, especially when compared to the gold-standard multiport (MP). This study sought to compare the perioperative morbidity between SP and MP-RARP. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 911 patients who underwent RARP between January 2015 and May 2023. At our institution, SP-RARP has been performed since October 2018 with Extraperitoneal and Transvesical (TV) techniques. To reduce the risk of selection bias, only MP-RARP cases performed before October 2018 were included. Baseline clinicodemographic and perioperative parameters were collected. Perioperative complications were classified in accordance to the Clavien-Dindo system with postoperative complications and readmission reported within 90 days of surgery. Statistical analysis was performed with R Packages for Statistical Computing with descriptive statistics as presented. Results: Of the 484 SP and 322 MP-RARP cases included in our analysis, one intraoperative complication was reported, which pertained to a small enterotomy during TV SP-RARP. Postoperative complications were identified in 14.5% and 14.6% of SP and MP-RARP cases (p = 0.989), respectively. Major complication represents 4.1% of the SP and 3.4% of MP cohorts. The 90-day rates of hospital readmission following SP and MP-RARP were 5.6% and 4.9%, respectively (p = 0.717). Limitations of this study included the retrospective single surgeon, single institution nature of our series that also included the early learning curve experience associated with the novel SP platform. Conclusion: This comparative study provided evidence highlighting the low rates of perioperative complication and readmission following SP-RARP that were comparable to the Transperitoneal MP approach. The low morbidity associated with SP-RARP supports its wider application as an addition to the contemporary minimally invasive surgical armamentariums for prostate cancer.

Preoperative Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based Anatomical Predictors of Early Urinary Continence Following Single-port Transvesical Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The introduction of the single-port (SP) robotic system has led to new approaches in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), such as the transvesical (TV) approach, offering high rates of early urinary continence. While previous studies of SP TV RARP have identified perioperative factors influencing continence outcomes, the impact of anatomical factors remains unexplored. This study aims to assess magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based anatomical predictors of urinary continence after SP TV RARP. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of consecutive SP TV RARP cases (November 2020 to June 2023) with preoperative prostate MRI was performed. Two urogenital radiologists independently evaluated ten anatomical parameters to distinguish patients achieving urinary continence within 1 wk and 3 mo. Nonparametric methods estimated receiver operating characteristic curves (area under the curve [AUC]) and inter-reader agreement. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: In 120 cases, 40% achieved continence within 1 wk, rising to 71.7% by 3 mo. Membranous urethra length (MUL) alone was significantly associated with continence at 3 mo (AUC: 0.67, p = 0.003). At 1 wk, several parameters, including anteroposterior diameter of the prostate, coronal membranous urethra length, prostate volume, and transverse diameter of the prostate, showed promise in predicting continence. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A longer preoperative MUL was significantly associated with better odds of an early return to urinary continence after SP TV RARP. Each 1-mm increase in coronal MUL was associated with a 27% increase in the odds of continence at 3 mo. This information can aid in patient counseling and expectations preoperatively. PATIENT SUMMARY: Urinary incontinence is a common outcome after prostate cancer surgery, particularly in the early months. Recently, the single-port (SP) robotic system has emerged, localizing surgery to the diseased area. With the SP robot, accessing the prostate via the bladder leads to high rates of early continence. Our study reveals that the longer the urethral portion beneath the prostate, the higher the likelihood of regaining continence within 3 mo after surgery.

Long-Term Functional and Oncologic Outcomes Following Robotic Partial and Radical Nephrectomy: A Report from a Single Institution with up to 15 Years of Follow-Up.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term functional and oncologic outcomes after robotic partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and radical nephrectomy (RARN). Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 1816 patients who underwent RAPN and RARN at our institution between January 2006 and January 2018. Patients with long-term follow-ups of at least 5 years were selected. Exclusion criteria included patients with a previous history of partial or radical nephrectomy, known genetic mutations, and whose procedures were performed for benign indications. Statistical analysis was performed with results as presented. Results: A total of 769 and 142 patients who underwent RAPN and RARN, respectively, met our inclusion criteria. The duration of follow-up was similar after the two procedures with a median of ∼100 months. The 5- and 10-year chronic kidney disease (CKD) upstaging-free survivals were 74.5% and 65.9% after RAPN and 53% and 46.4% after RARN, respectively. Older age was identified as a potential predictor for CKD progression after RARN, whereas older age, higher body mass index, baseline renal function, and ischemia time were shown to predict CKD progression after RAPN. Renal cell carcinoma-related mortality rates for RAPN and RARN were equally 1.1%. No statistically significant differences were identified in the local recurrence, metastatic, and disease-specific survival between the two procedures. Conclusion: Compared with RARN, RAPN conferred a better CKD progression-free survival. Several factors were identified as potential predictors for clinically significant CKD progression both in the early and late postoperative phase. Long-term oncologic outcomes between the two procedures remained similarly favorable.

Current Expectations and Opinions on Single-port Robotic Surgery: A Survey Among European Experts by the SPARC Collaborative Group.

Single-port (SP) robotic surgery is a relatively new technology that is expected to become available on the European market within a year. We investigated the current expectations of robotic surgery experts and opinion leaders practicing in Europe. A 17-item online questionnaire was sent to 120 participants identified as "experts" on the basis of their general contributions to the field of robotic surgery. Overall, 90 responses were registered, with a response rate of 75%. Italy (30%), France (15%), and the UK (12%) provided the most participants, who worked mainly in academic-either public (60%) or private (20%)-hospitals. Most respondents (79%) had no previous experience with "single site" surgery, and attendance at scientific meetings (79%) and perusal of the literature (65%) were the sources of SP knowledge most frequently reported. The perceived advantages of SP robotic surgery included lower invasiveness (61%), easier access to the retroperitoneal or extraperitoneal space (53%), better cosmetic results (44%), and lower postoperative pain (44%). The most "appealing" SP procedures were retroperitoneal partial nephrectomy via an anterior approach (43%) and transvesical simple prostatectomy (43%). Within the limitations of this type of analysis, our findings suggest high interest and a positive attitude towards SP technology overall. Patient summary: Technology for single-port (SP) robotic surgery, in which just one skin incision is made in the abdomen to perform the operation, will soon be available in Europe. We conducted a survey on SP surgery among European experts in urological robotic surgery. The results show that there is high interest in and a positive attitude to SP surgery. The SP approach could result in better cosmetic results and lower postoperative pain for patients.

The Transition Toward Opioid-sparing Outpatient Radical Prostatectomy: A Single Institution Experience With Three Contemporary Robotic Approaches.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate for differences in the perioperative and early postoperative outcomes between three different contemporary approaches of robotic radical prostatectomy (RARP), namely Single-Port (SP) Transvesical (TV), SP Extraperitoneal (EP), and Multi-Port (MP) Transperitoneal (TP). METHODS: Retrospective review was performed on 865 consecutive patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent SP-TV, SP-EP, and MP-TP RARP. SP-TV and SP-EP RARP were performed using the purpose-built SP robotic platform. All procedures were performed by a single, experienced robotic surgeon. Demographics, perioperative, and early postoperative data were collected from the prospectively-maintained database. Statistical analysis was performed with descriptive statistics as presented. RESULTS: All SP cases were completed without any need for conversion or additional ports. When compared with MP-TP RARP, both SP-EP and SP-TV RARP were associated with significantly reduced length of stay (median, SP-TV 5.07 vs SP-EP 5.1 vs MP-TP 26.6 hours, P = <.05) and with most patients being discharged within 24 hours (SP-TV 92.3% vs SP-EP 84.6% vs MP-TP 30.4%, P = <.05). Postoperative analgesia requirements were significantly reduced following SP-TV RARP with 95% did not require opioid analgesia after discharge, as opposed to 77.6% and 12.1% of patients in the SP-EP and MP-TP RARP cohorts, respectively (P = <.05). Additionally, SP-TV RARP demonstrated the added benefit of a shorter Foley catheter duration of 4 days with an earlier return of urinary continence. CONCLUSION: The localization of RARP, as facilitated by the SP robotic platform, provided the opportunity for enhanced postoperative recovery resulting in decreased length of admission and postoperative pain, which allowed for increasing adoption of opioid-sparing outpatient prostatectomy.

Vesicourethral Anastomosis in Transvesical Single-Port Robotic Radical Prostatectomy: A Technical Description and Perioperative Outcomes.

Objective: To describe the technical evolution and perioperative outcomes of vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) in transvesical (TV) single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (SP-RARP). Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 189 patients who underwent TV SP-RARP by a single surgeon using the purpose-built SP robotic platform. VUA was completed from within the bladder using two unidirectional V-loc sutures in a continuous, semicircular manner with greater emphasis posteriorly. The most recent 20 cases of TV SP-RARP were selected to evaluate the anastomosis technique and to compare the perioperative outcomes with the first 20 cases of TV SP-RARP performed at our institution. Demographic and clinical data were collected from the prospectively maintained database and statistical analysis was performed. Results: VUA was effectively completed in all cases using the aforementioned technique without any suture breaks, need for conversion, or evidence of intraoperative complication, including urine leak. Marked improvement in the learning curve was observed, which translated to significant reduction in the number of VUA sutures (median: 13 vs 15, p < 0.05) and faster anastomosis time (median: 19.1 vs 33.5 minutes, p < 0.05). The number of anastomotic sutures did not correlate with the prostatectomy specimen weight or volume, especially with both being significantly greater in the latest cases (median weight: 45.1 vs 37.6 g, p < 0.05; median volume: 40.9 vs 36.2 mL, p < 0.05). Postoperative outcomes were favorable with immediate continence achieved in 51.3% of our total cohort and with no patients demonstrating evidence of bladder neck contracture. Conclusion: We provided a detailed technical description of VUA in TV SP-RARP. The improved maneuverability of the SP robotic platform allowed for unique movements to facilitate suture placements from within the confined space of the bladder. The learning curve of a single surgeon was shown in our study, which resulted in notable reduction in the number of sutures, faster anastomosis time, and improved perioperative outcomes.

Low Risk of Postoperative Hernia Following Single-port Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Report From the Single-port Advanced Research Consortium (SPARC).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of postoperative hernia following different approaches of single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (SP-RARP). METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent SP-RARP between February 2019 and December 2022. Demographic and clinical information was collected from the multi-institutional, prospectively-maintained Single-Port Advanced Research Consortium (SPARC) database. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Packaging for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0 with descriptive statistics as presented. RESULTS: A total of 1103 patients were identified, consisting of 244 (22.1%), 712 (64.6%), and 147 (13.3%) cases performed via transperitoneal, extraperitoneal (EP), and transvesical (TV) approaches, respectively. During a median follow-up time of 11 months (interquartile range 5.7-17.1 months), only two cases of incisional hernia were reported. Both cases occurred following transperitoneal SP-RARP with one patient requiring surgical repair. There remains no evidence of postoperative hernia following EP and TV SP-RARP at the completion of our review. CONCLUSION: SP-RARP was associated with low risk for postoperative hernia. The risk was lower following TV and EP SP-RARP where the peritoneum is preserved.