The role of laparoscopic and robotic cystectomy in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer with special emphasis on cancer control and complications

A Single-centre Early Phase Randomised Controlled Three-arm Trial of Open, Robotic, and Laparoscopic Radical Cystectomy (CORAL)

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) and robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) are increasingly popular, but high-level evidence for these techniques remains lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the outcomes of patients undergoing open radical cystectomy (ORC), RARC, and LRC.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

From March 2009 to July 2012, 164 patients requiring radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer or high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer were invited to participate, with an aim of recruiting 47 patients into each arm. Overall, 93 were suitable for trial inclusion; 60 (65%) agreed and 33 (35%) declined.

INTERVENTION

ORC, RARC, or LRC with extracorporeal urinary diversion.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Primary end points were 30- and 90-d complication rates. Secondary end points were perioperative clinical, pathologic, and oncologic outcomes, and quality of life (QoL). The Fisher exact test and analysis of variance were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

The 30-d complication rates (classified by the Clavien-Dindo system) varied significantly between the three arms (ORC: 70%; RARC: 55%; LRC: 26%; p=0.024). ORC complication rates were significantly higher than LRC (p<0.01). The 90-d complication rates did not differ significantly between the three arms (ORC: 70%; RARC: 55%; LRC 32%; p=0.068). Mean operative time was significantly longer in RARC compared with ORC or LRC. ORC resulted in a slower return to oral solids than RARC or LRC. There were no significant differences in QoL measures. Major limitations are the small sample size and potential surgeon bias.

CONCLUSIONS

The 30-d complication rates varied by type of surgery and were significantly higher in the ORC arm than the LRC arm. There was no significant difference in 90-d Clavien-graded complication rates between the three arms.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We compared patients having open, robotic, or laparoscopic bladder removal surgery for bladder cancer and found no difference in Clavien-graded complication rates at 90 d.

Videourodynamic evaluation of intracorporeally reconstructed orthotopic U-shaped ileal neobladders

OBJECTIVE

To study the functional outcomes of 30 patients who had previously undergone laparoscopic radical cystectomy with intracorporeal orthotopic ileal neobladder reconstruction using videourodynamic (VUDM) assessment 180 days postoperatively.

METHODS

Between November 2010 and December 2013, 30 male patients had undergone laparoscopic radical cystectomy with bilateral standard pelvic lymphadenectomy and pure laparoscopic orthotopic ileal U-shaped neobladder diversion. The demographic data were as follows: median age, 67 years (range, 62-79); body mass index, 22.3 kg/m(2) (range, 16-26.1 kg/m(2)); and mean American Society of Anesthesiologists score 2.2 (range, 1-3). Functional outcomes were assessed performing a standard VUDM study combined with perineal floor electromyography 180 days postoperatively.

RESULTS

VUDM evaluations showed good functional outcomes of the reservoirs. Mean maximal neobladder capacity was 287 mL (range, 210-335 mL). Residual peristaltic activity was observed in all the individuals evaluated; however, only 9 of 30 individuals (30%) displayed severe peristaltic activity. Six of these 9 individuals (66.6%) experienced urinary leakage during these contractions. Mean postvoid residual volume was 44 mL (range, 0-105 mL), and peak flow rate was 13.9 mL/s (range, 9.7-29.2 mL/s). The Valsalva maneuver was positive in 5 of 30 subjects (17%). Bladder morphology assessed during contrast cystography showed the desired U-shape in all cases. Ureteral reflux was observed in 7 of 30 individuals (23.3%).

CONCLUSION

Based on VUDM, our study shows that U-shaped ileal neobladders achieved by a totally laparoscopic approach obtained good functional outcomes. These findings support the evidence that a minimally invasive approach does not impose technical limitations that negatively impact the surgical results.

Intraoperative laparoscopic complications for urological cancer procedures

AIM: To structure the rate of intraoperative complications that requires an intraoperative or perioperative resolution.

METHODS: We perform a literature review of Medline database. The research was focused on intraoperative laparoscopic procedures inside the field of urological oncology. General rate of perioperative complications in laparoscopic urologic surgery is described to be around 12.4%. Most of the manuscripts published do not make differences between pure intraoperative, intraoperative with postoperative consequences and postoperative complications.

RESULTS: We expose a narrative statement of complications, possible solutions and possible preventions for most frequent retroperitoneal and pelvic laparoscopic surgery. We expose the results with the following order: retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery (radical nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy and adrenalectomy) and pelvic laparoscopic surgery (radical prostatectomy and radical cystectomy).

CONCLUSION: Intraoperative complications vary from different series. More scheduled reports should be done in order to better understand the real rates of complications.

Recurrence patterns after open and robot-assisted radical cystectomy for bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Concerns remain whether robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) compromises survival because of inadequate oncologic resection or alteration of recurrence patterns.

OBJECTIVE

To describe recurrence patterns following open radical cystectomy (ORC) and RARC.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Retrospective review of 383 consecutive patients who underwent ORC (n=120) or RARC (n=263) at an academic institution from July 2001 to February 2014.

INTERVENTION

ORC and RARC.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Recurrence-free survival estimates were illustrated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Recurrence patterns (local vs distant and anatomic locations) within 2 yr of surgery were tabulated. Cox regression models were built to evaluate the effect of surgical technique on the risk of recurrence.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

The median follow-up time for patients without recurrence was 30 mo (interquartile range [IQR] 5-72) for ORC and 23 mo (IQR 9-48) for RARC (p=0.6). Within 2 yr of surgery, there was no large difference in the number of local recurrences between ORC and RARC patients (15/65 [23%] vs 24/136 [18%]), and the distribution of local recurrences was similar between the two groups. Similarly, the number of distant recurrences did not differ between the groups (26/73 [36%] vs 43/147 [29%]). However, there were distinct patterns of distant recurrence. Extrapelvic lymph node locations were more frequent for RARC than ORC (10/43 [23%] vs 4/26 [15%]). Furthermore, peritoneal carcinomatosis was found in 9/43 (21%) RARC patients compared to 2/26 (8%) ORC patients. In multivariable analyses, RARC was not a predictor of recurrence. Limitations of the study include selection bias and a limited sample size.

CONCLUSIONS

Within limitations, we found that RARC is not an independent predictor of recurrence after surgery. Interestingly, extrapelvic lymph node locations and peritoneal carcinomatosis were more frequent in RARC than in ORC patients. Further validation is warranted to better understand the oncologic implications of RARC.

PATIENT SUMMARY

In this study, the locations of bladder cancer recurrences following conventional and robotic techniques for removal of the bladder are described. Although the numbers are small, the results show that the distribution of distant recurrences differs between the two techniques.

Best practices in robot-assisted radical cystectomy and urinary reconstruction: recommendations of the Pasadena Consensus Panel

CONTEXT

Robot-assisted surgery is increasingly used for radical cystectomy (RC) and urinary reconstruction. Sufficient data have accumulated to allow evidence-based consensus on key issues such as perioperative management, comparative effectiveness on surgical complications, and oncologic short- to midterm outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

A 2-d conference of experts on RC and urinary reconstruction was organized in Pasadena, California, and the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, California, to systematically review existing peer-reviewed literature on robot-assisted RC (RARC), extended lymphadenectomy, and urinary reconstruction. No commercial support was obtained for the conference.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic review of the literature was performed in agreement with the PRISMA statement.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Systematic literature reviews and individual presentations were discussed, and consensus on all key issues was obtained. Most operative, intermediate-term oncologic, functional, and complication outcomes are similar between open RC (ORC) and RARC. RARC consistently results in less blood loss and a reduced need for transfusion during surgery. RARC generally requires longer operative time than ORC, particularly with intracorporeal reconstruction. Robotic assistance provides ergonomic value for surgeons. Surgeon experience and institutional volume strongly predict favorable outcomes for either open or robotic techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

RARC appears to be similar to ORC in terms of operative, pathologic, intermediate-term oncologic, complication, and most functional outcomes. RARC consistently results in less blood loss and a reduced need for transfusion during surgery. RARC can be more expensive than ORC, although high procedural volume may attenuate this difference.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) is an alternative to open surgery for patients with bladder cancer who require removal of their bladder and reconstruction of their urinary tract. RARC appears to be similar to open surgery for most important outcomes such as the rate of complications and intermediate-term cancer-specific survival. Although RARC has some ergonomic advantages for surgeons and may result in less blood loss during surgery, it is more time consuming and may be more expensive than open surgery.

Systematic review and cumulative analysis of perioperative outcomes and complications after robot-assisted radical cystectomy

CONTEXT

Although open radical cystectomy (ORC) is still the standard approach, laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) and robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) have gained popularity.

OBJECTIVE

To report a systematic literature review and cumulative analysis of perioperative outcomes and complications of RARC in comparison with ORC and LRC.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched using a free-text protocol including the terms robot-assisted radical cystectomy or da Vinci radical cystectomy or robot* radical cystectomy. RARC case series and studies comparing RARC with either ORC or LRC were collected. Cumulative analysis was conducted.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The searches retrieved 105 papers. According to the different diversion type, overall mean operative time ranged from 360 to 420 min. Similarly, mean blood loss ranged from 260 to 480 ml. Mean in-hospital stay was about 9 d for all diversion types, with consistently high readmission rates. In series reporting on RARC with either extracorporeal or intracorporeal conduit diversion, overall 90-d complication rates were 59% (high-grade complication: 15%). In series reporting RARC with intracorporeal continent diversion, the overall 30-d complication rate was 45.7% (high-grade complication: 28%). Reported mortality rates were ≤3% for all diversion types. Comparing RARC and ORC, cumulative analyses demonstrated shorter operative time for ORC, whereas blood loss and in-hospital stay were better with RARC (all p values <0.003). Moreover, 90-d complication rates of any-grade and 90-d grade 3 complication rates were lower for RARC (all p values <0.04), whereas high-grade complication and mortality rates were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

RARC can be performed safely with acceptable perioperative outcome, although complications are common. Cumulative analyses demonstrated that operative time was shorter with ORC, whereas RARC may provide some advantages in terms of blood loss and transfusion rates and, more limitedly, for postoperative complication rates over ORC and LRC.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Although open radical cystectomy (RC) is still regarded as a standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, laparoscopic and robot-assisted RC are becoming more popular. Robotic RC can be safely performed with acceptably low risk of blood loss, transfusion, and intraoperative complications; however, as for open RC, the risk of postoperative complications is high, including a substantial risk of major complication and reoperation.

Robotic surgery in urological oncology: patient care or market share?

Surgical robotic use has grown exponentially in spite of limited or uncertain benefits and large costs. In certain situations, adoption of robotic technology provides value to patients and society. In other cases, however, the robot provides little or no increase in surgical quality, with increased expense, and, therefore, does not add value to health care. The surgical robot is expensive to purchase, maintain and operate, and can contribute to increased consumerism in relation to surgical procedures, and increased reliance on the technology, thus driving future increases in health-care expenditure. Given the current need for budget constraints, the cost-effectiveness of specific procedures must be evaluated. The surgical robot should be used when cost-effective, but traditional open and laparoscopic techniques also need to be continually fostered.

Pure intracorporeal laparoscopic radical cystectomy with orthotopic "U" shaped ileal neobladder

Background

Radical cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection represents the standard treatment for muscle-invasive, and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers. Aim of this study was to report our case series of 30 patients undergoing totally laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) with reconstruction of an intracorporeal orthotopic ileal neobladder. Intra- and perioperative results and the functional and oncological outcomes 9 months after operation are reported.

Methods

Between October 2010 and December 2012, 30 male patients underwent LRC with a pure laparoscopic orthotopic ileal “U”- shaped neobladder diversion. The men had a median age of 67 years, a median body mass index of 22.3, and a mean ASA score of 2.2; they represented various clinical stages of disease.

Results

None of the patients required conversion to open surgery, and no perioperative mortalities were reported. The median operating time was 365 min, and the median blood loss was 290 mL, with a transfusion rate of 26.6%. All surgical margins were negative; 8 patients with non–organ-confined disease or positive lymph nodes received adjuvant chemotherapy. Early complications (within 30 days) occurred in 7 patients, and late complications occurred in 6 patients. The mean hospital stay was 9 days. At 9 months after surgery, the daytime continence rate was 83.3% and the nighttime continence rate was 73.3%.

Conclusions

Pure LRC with intracorporeal orthotopic ileal neobladder reconstruction may represent a viable alternative to open radical cystectomy, with a significant reduction in patient morbidity. Future, large, randomized controlled trials with extensive follow-up are needed to confirm our encouraging results.

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal neobladder diversion: The Karolinska experience

Introduction:

The aim of this report is to describe our surgical technique of totally intracorporeal robotic assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with neobladder formation.

Materials and Methods:

Between December 2003 and March 2013, a total of 147 patients (118 male, 29 female) underwent totally intracorporeal RARC for urinary bladder cancer. We also performed a systematic search of Medline, Embase and PubMed databases using the terms RARC, robotic cystectomy, robot-assisted, totally intracorporeal RARC, intracorporeal neobladder, intracorporeal urinary diversion, oncological outcomes, functional outcomes, and complication rates.

Results:

The mean age of our patients was 64 years (range 37-87). On surgical pathology 47% had pT1 or less disease, 27% had pT2, 16% had pT3 and 10% had pT4. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 21 (range 0-60). 24% of patients had lymph node positive dAQ1isease. Positive surgical margins occurred in 6 cases (4%). Mean follow-up was 31 months (range 4-115 months). Two patients (1.4%) died within 90 days of their operation. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, overall survival and cancer specific survival at 60 months was 68% and 69.6%, respectively. 80 patients (54%) received a continent diversion with totally intracorporeal neobladder formation. In the neobladder subgroup median total operating time was 420 minutes (range 265-760). Daytime continence and satisfactory sexual function or potency at 12 months ranged between 70-90% in both men and women.

Conclusions:

Our experience with totally intracorporeal RARC demonstrates acceptable oncological and functional outcomes that suggest this is a viable alternative to open radical cystectomy.

Long-term urodynamic evaluation of laparoscopic radical cystectomy with orthotopic ileal neobladder for bladder cancer

The long-term urodynamics of laparoscopic radical cystectomy with orthotopic ileal neobladder for bladder cancer remain unclear in the clinical setting. The present prospective observational study was conducted between January 2010 and December 2012 to evaluate the 6-month and 12-month follow-up data of urodynamic changes of bladder cancer patients who were initially treated by laparoscopic radical cystectomy with orthotopic ileal neobladder. A total of 53 eligible patients were included, and all patients were followed up for at least 12 months, with a median time of 18 months. During the follow-up period, no patients reported difficulty urinating, and the daily frequency of urination and the urine output were gradually improved with time. Dynamic urodynamic examinations showed that the maximum flow rate (11.4±1.1 vs. 7.3±1.4 ml/sec; P<0.001), residual urine content (22.8±10.5 vs. 40.7±12.7 ml; P<0.001), maximum bladder capacity (373.8±62.2 vs. 229.7±56.3 ml; P<0.001) and maximum bladder pressure during filling (35.8±6.7 vs. 26.4±7.0 cm H₂O; P<0.001) at 12 months were all improved significantly compared with that at 6 months after the initial surgical treatment. However, there were no significant differences in maximum bladder pressure during voiding (75.7±24.7 vs. 73.1±24.7 cm H₂O; P=0.618) and bladder compliance (26.9±13 vs. 27.4±13.1 cm H₂O; P=0.848) at 12 and 6 months after initial surgical treatment. In conclusion, the urodynamics of this orthotopic ileal neobladder gradually improve, and its long-term urine storage and voiding functions are acceptable.

Laparoscopic versus open radical cystectomy in bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies

Background and Objective

More recently laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) has increasingly been an attractive alternative to open radical cystectomy (ORC) and many centers have reported their early experiences in the treatment of bladder cancer. Evaluate the safety and efficacy of LRC compared with ORC in the treatment of bladder cancer.

Methods

A systematic search of Medline, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library was performed up to Mar 1, 2013. Outcomes of interest assessing the two techniques included demographic and clinical baseline characteristics, perioperative, pathologic and oncological variables, and post-op neobladder function and complications.

Results

Sixteen eligible trials evaluating LRC vs ORC were identified including seven prospective and nine retrospective studies. Although LRC was associated with longer operative time (p<0.001), patients might benefit from significantly fewer overall complications (p<0.001), less blood loss (p<0.001), shorter length of hospital stay (p<0.001), less need of blood transfusion (p<0.001), less narcotic analgesic requirement (p<0.001), shorter time to ambulation (p = 0.03), shorter time to regular diet (p<0.001), fewer positive surgical margins (p = 0.006), fewer positive lymph node (p = 0.05), lower distant metastasis rate (p = 0.05) and fewer death (p = 0.004). There was no significant difference in other demographic parameters except for a lower ASA score (p = 0.01) in LRC while post-op neobladder function were similar between the two groups.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that LRC appears to be a safe, feasible and minimally invasive alternative to ORC with reliable perioperative safety, pathologic & oncologic efficacy, comparable post-op neobladder function and fewer complications. Because of the inherent limitations of the included studies, further large sample prospective, multi-centric, long-term follow-up studies and randomized control trials should be undertaken to confirm our findings.

Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy with extracorporeal urinary diversion for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder: analysis of complications and oncologic outcomes in 175 patients with a median follow-up of 3 years

OBJECTIVE

To report oncologic outcomes and complications after robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From March 2004 to August 2011, 175 consecutive patients underwent RARC with extracorporeal urinary diversion at our institution by a single surgeon. The study design was prospective. Perioperative parameters and postoperative complications were prospectively collected using the modified Clavien system. Recurrence-free survival and cancer-specific survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

A total of 145 men and 30 women with a median age of 73 years and a median body mass index of 27 kg/m(2) underwent RARC. Four patients (2.3%) required conversion to open surgery because of difficulty to progress. One hundred nine patients (62%) underwent a transcutaneous ileal conduit, 40 patients (23%) an orthotopic neobladder, and 26 (15%) a continent cutaneous conduit. The median operating time was 360 minutes (interquartile range [IQR]: 300-420). The median estimated blood loss was 400 mL (IQR: 250-612), with a transfusion rate of 17.0%. The median postoperative length of stay was 7.0 days (IQR: 5.2-10). Early (<30 days) and late surgery-related complications (30-90 days) occurred in 74 (42%) and 59 (34%) patients, respectively. The perioperative mortality rate was 2.8%. The positive soft tissue surgical margins rate was 5%. The median number of lymph nodes removed was 19 (IQR: 12-28). The median follow-up was 37 months (IQR: 21.5-53.5). Actuarial recurrence-free survival and cancer-specific survival at 2, 3, and 5 years after RARC were 67%, 63%, 63% and 73%, 68%, 66%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

RARC achieved mid-term oncologic efficacy. Moreover, the complication rates were comparable with open radical cystectomy series.

Totally intracorporeal robot-assisted radical cystectomy: optimizing total outcomes

We performed a systematic literature review to assess the current status of a totally intracorporeal robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) approach. The current 'gold standard' for radical cystectomy remains open radical cystectomy. RARC has lagged behind robot-assisted prostatectomy in terms of adoption and perceived patient benefit, but there are indications that this is now changing. There have been several recently published large series of RARC, both with extracorporeal and with intracorporeal urinary diversions. The present review focuses on the totally intracorporeal approach. Radical cystectomy is complex surgery with several important outcome measures, including oncological and functional outcomes, complication rates, patient recovery and cost implications. We aim to answer the question of whether there are advantages to a totally intracorporeal robotic approach or whether we are simply making an already complex procedure more challenging with an associated increase in complication rates. We review the current status of both oncological and functional outcomes of totally intracorporeal RARC compared with standard RARC with extraperitoneal urinary diversion and with open radical cystectomy, and assess the associated short- and long-term complication rates. We also review aspects in training and research that have affected the uptake of RARC. Additionally we evaluate how current technology is contributing to the future development of this surgical technique.

Long-term evaluation of oncologic and functional outcomes after laparoscopic open-assisted radical cystectomy: a matched-pair analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate peri- and postoperative morbidity, and long-term oncologic and functional results of our laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) technique, comparing it with our standard open approach.

METHODS

Between 2000 and 2010, 54 patients underwent LRC for urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder in two academic hospitals. The procedures were performed by two surgeons. Patients were matched 1:1 with patients who underwent open RC in the same years by the same surgical team. Differences in peri- and postoperative complications across the two groups were assessed using Wilcoxon's rank-sum or χ (2) test. Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests and Cox regression models were constructed to assess differences in recurrence-free survival on long-term follow-up between the two groups.

RESULTS

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy was significantly associated with lower blood loss (p < 0.0001) and less frequent postoperative ileus (p = 0.03). Regarding more serious postoperative complications, no difference was found across the two cohorts. Median oncologic follow-up was 42 months (IQR 12-72 months) in the LRC cohort and 18 months (IQR 8-27 months) in patients undergoing open radical cystectomy (ORC). No statistically significant difference in recurrence-free survival was observed between the two groups (log rank p = 0.677). On univariate Cox regression, the surgical approach used was not significantly associated with risk of recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that LRC is safe and associated with lower blood loss and decreased postoperative ileus compared with ORC. Moreover, on long-term oncologic follow-up, LRC appeared non-inferior to ORC with no significant difference in recurrence-free survival. Nonetheless, these results must be confirmed by larger series and stronger long-term follow-up data are needed.

Current status of minimally invasive radical cystectomy: an outcome-based comparison

Minimally invasive approaches to radical cystectomy are 20 years old. Available data suggest that minimally invasive radical cystectomy can provide comparable outcomes to open radical cystectomy despite the scarcity of level 1-2 evidence. Perioperative, functional and early oncologic outcomes seem comparable between the two surgical approaches. Robotic technology has allowed more surgeons to perform minimally invasive radical cystectomy and has simplified technically demanding steps that posed problems in conventional laparoscopy. This is evident by the rapid dissemination of robotics in many bladder cancer centers worldwide and by the numerous emerging series of robot-assisted intracorporeal urinary diversion. Until more data are available regarding the oncologic performance of minimally invasive radical cystectomy, open radical cystectomy remains the gold standard procedure for now.

A prospective randomised controlled trial of laparoscopic vs open radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: perioperative and oncologic outcomes with 5-year follow-upT Lin et al

Background:

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) is increasingly being used for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, high levels of clinical evidence comparing laparoscopic vs open radical cystectomy (ORC) are lacking.

Methods:

A prospective randomised controlled clinical trial comparing LRC vs ORC in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Thirty-five patients were eligible for final analysis in each group.

Results:

The median follow-up was 26 months (range, 4–59 months) for laparoscopic vs 32 months (range, 6–60 months) for ORC. Significant differences were noted in operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), blood transfusion rate, analgesic requirement, and time to resumption of oral intake. No significant differences were noted in the length of hospital stay, complication rate, lymph node yield (14.1±6.3 for LRC and 15.2±5.9 for ORC), positive surgical margin rate, postoperative pathology, or recurrence rate (7 for LRC and 8 for ORC). The 5-year recurrence-free survival with laparoscopic vs ORC was 78.5% vs 70.9%, respectively (P=0.773). The overall survival with laparoscopic vs ORC was 73.8% vs 67.4%, respectively (P=0.511).

Conclusion:

Our study demonstrated that LRC is superior to ORC in perioperative outcomes, including EBL, blood transfusion rate, and analgesic requirement. We found no major difference in oncologic outcomes. The number of patients is too small to allow for a final conclusion.

[Treatment outcome of laparoscopic radical cystectomy at a single institution]

OBJECTIVE

The standard care for invasive bladder cancer is radical cystectomy with urinary diversion, but laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) is still being evaluated. We describe our initial experience of laparoscopic radical cystectomy compared to open radical cystectomy (ORC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 2000 to June 2012, 84 patients underwent radical cystectomy by ORC (n = 54) or LRC (n = 30). Treatment outcomes including surgical and oncological outcomes between LRC and ORC were compared. We also assessed learning curve during LRC as to blood loss, operating time and complication rate.

RESULTS

The patients' characteristics were similar in LRC and ORC groups except for ASA score. Importantly, Operating time during LRC was longer but complication rate of LRC was lower than that of ORC (586 min vs 424 min and 40% vs 69%, respectively). In addition, pathological stage or outcomes were similar in both groups and there were no significant difference between LRC and ORC groups in terms of overall and recurrence free survival rate. As for learning curve of LRC, operating time and blood loss tended to decrease with increased experience.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that LRC could be performed safely with decreased complication rate and similar oncological outcomes compared to ORC.

Analysis of intracorporeal compared with extracorporeal urinary diversion after robot-assisted radical cystectomy: results from the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium

BACKGROUND

Intracorporeal urinary diversion (ICUD) has the potential benefits of a smaller incision, reduced pain, decreased bowel exposure, and reduced risk of fluid imbalance.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing extracorporeal urinary diversion (ECUD) and ICUD following robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

We reviewed the database of the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC) (18 international centers), with 935 patients who had undergone RARC and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) between 2003 and 2011.

INTERVENTION

All patients within the IRCC underwent RARC and PLND as indicated. The urinary diversion was performed either intracorporeally or extracorporeally.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Demographic data, perioperative outcomes, and complications in patients undergoing ICUD or ECUD were compared. All patients had at least a 90-d follow-up. The Fisher exact test was used to summarize categorical variables and the Wilcoxon rank sum test or Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Of 935 patients who had RARC and PLND, 167 patients underwent ICUD (ileal conduit: 106; neobladder: 61), and 768 patients had an ECUD (ileal conduit: 570; neobladder: 198). Postoperative complications data were available for 817 patients, with a minimum follow-up of 90 d. There was no difference in age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, or rate of prior abdominal surgery between the groups. The operative time was equivalent (414 min), with the median hospital stay being marginally longer for the ICUD group (9 d vs 8 d, p=0.086). No difference in the reoperation rates at 30 d was noted between the groups. The 90-d complication rate was not significant between the two groups, but a trend favoring ICUD over ECUD was noted (41% vs 49%, p=0.05). Gastrointestinal complications were significantly lower in the ICUD group (p ≤ 0.001). Patients with ICUD were at a lower risk of experiencing a postoperative complication at 90 d (32%) (odds ratio: 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.94; p=0.02). Being a retrospective study was the main limitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Robot-assisted ICUD can be accomplished safely, with comparable outcomes to open urinary diversion. In this cohort, patients undergoing ICUD had a relatively lower risk of complications.

Robotics in uro-oncologic surgery

In urology, the main use for the robotic technique has been in radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Robotic surgery for other organs, such as the kidneys and bladder, has been less explored. However, partial nephrectomy or radical nephroureterectomy can be difficult for inexperienced laparoscopic surgeons. The advent of the da Vinci robot, with multijointed endowristed instruments and stereoscopic vision, decreases the technical difficulty of intracorporeal suturing and improves the reconstructive steps. The objective of this article is to offer an overview of all robotic procedures recently developed in the field of urology. We evaluate the feasibility of these procedures and their potential advantages and disadvantages. We also describe perioperative, postoperative, and oncologic outcomes of robot-assisted surgery as well as perform a comparison with open and laparoscopic techniques. Comparative data and an adequate follow-up are needed to demonstrate equivalent oncologic outcomes in comparison with traditional open or laparoscopic procedures.

Recent advances in diagnosis and treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

The management of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCCB) presents a challenge to urological surgeons due to the diversity of patient factors, stage at presentation and propensity for disease recurrence and progression. Advances in the last decade have seen an evolution in techniques for diagnosis, treatment and ongoing surveillance. A good understanding of our patients, the disease and the available diagnostic and therapeutic options is essential for the management of this condition. We review the current literature focusing on the merits of recent advances in this field. Given the breadth of the subject, we have deliberately selected only the most relevant and recent advances already in clinical use.

Robotic Intracorporeal Ileal Conduit Formation: Initial Experience from a Single UK Centre

Objectives. To describe our technique of robotic intracorporeal ileal conduit formation (RICIC) during robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). To report our initial results of this new procedure. Patients and Methods. Seven male and one female patients underwent RARC with RICIC over a six-month period. Demographic, operative, and outcome data was collected prospectively. Median patient age was 75 years (range 62–78 years). Median followup was 9 months (range 7–14 months). Results. RARC with RICIC was performed successfully in all eight patients. The median total operating time was 360 minutes (range 310–440 minutes) with a median blood loss of 225 mL (range 50–1000 mL). The median length of stay was nine days (range 6–34 days). Four patients (50%) were discharged within seven days. Four patients (50%) experienced one or more complications. This included two Clavien I complications, two Clavien II complications, and two Clavien III complications. Two patients (25%) required transfusion of two units each. To date, there have been no complications associated with the ileal conduit. Conclusion. Whilst being technically challenging, this procedure is safe, feasible, and reproducible. Patients who avoid complication show potential for rapid recovery and early discharge.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with extracorporeal ileal neobladder for muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder: technique and short-term outcomes

OBJECTIVES

To report the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) with extracorporeal orthotopic ileal neobladder (OIN) in patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between October 2009 and December 2011, 37 patients with muscle-invasive UCB underwent a LRC with OIN. Indications included (a) muscle-invasive UCB T2-4a, N0-Nx, M0; (b) high-risk and recurrent non-muscle-invasive tumors; (c) T1G3 plus CIS; and (d) extensive non-muscle-invasive disease that could not be controlled by transurethral resection and intravesical therapy. Demographic data, perioperative, and postoperative variables were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

The median operating time was 330 min, with a median estimated blood loss of 410 ml. Median length of stay was 12 days, and the mean length of the skin incision to extract the specimen and for the configuration of the neobladder was 7 ± 1 cm. The complication rate was 21.6 % (Clavien II). No Clavien III-V complications were reported. Daytime and nocturnal continence were preserved in 95 and 78 %, respectively. No local recurrence or port site metastasis occurred. Median time to disease recurrence was 14 months (IQR 9-24), and 1-year cancer-specific survival was 91.9 %.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with extracorporeal ileal neobladder is a challenging procedure but technically feasible, allowing low morbidity and oncological safety. Long-term oncological results are required to definitely recognize this procedure as a standard treatment for bladder cancer.

Status of Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy (RARC) in 2012

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for bladder cancer is increasingly becoming popular in specialist centres around the world. RARC has the advantage of being minimally invasive and also the dexterity of the instruments allow reconstruction such as ileal conduit urinary diversion or neobladder formation. Starting from the initial series demonstrating the feasibility of RARC and extended pelvic lymph node dissection, we now have mature series demonstrating equal oncological and functional outcomes in the medium term follow-up. In addition, literature suggests decreased hospital stay, less blood loss equating to less blood transfusion and a trend towards decreased complications as well. In the near future we would anticipate further refinement and reduced operating times with increased benefits for the patient undergoing RARC.

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.

EAU guidelines on robotic and single-site surgery in urology

CONTEXT

This is a short version of the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on robotic and single-site surgery in urology, as created in 2013 by the EAU Guidelines Office Panel on Urological Technologies.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate current evidence regarding robotic and single-site surgery in urology and to provide clinical recommendations.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A comprehensive online systematic search of the literature according to Cochrane recommendations was performed in July 2012, identifying data from 1990 to 2012 regarding robotic and single-site surgery in urology.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

There is a lack of high-quality data on both robotic and single-site surgery for most upper and lower urinary tract operations. Mature evidence including midterm follow-up data exists only for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. In the absence of high-quality data, the guidelines panel's recommendations were based mostly on the review of low-level evidence and expert opinions.

CONCLUSIONS

Robot-assisted urologic surgery is an emerging and safe technology for most urologic operations. Further documentation including long-term oncologic and functional outcomes is deemed necessary before definite conclusions can be drawn regarding the superiority or not of robotic assistance compared with the conventional laparoscopic and open approaches. Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery is a novel laparoscopic technique providing a potentially superior cosmetic outcome over conventional laparoscopy. Nevertheless, further advantages offered by this technology are still under discussion and not yet proven. Due to the technically demanding character of the single-site approach, only experienced laparoscopic surgeons should attempt this technique in clinical settings.

PATIENT SUMMARY

This work represents the shortened version of the 2013 European Association of Urology guidelines on robotic and single-site surgery. The authors systematically evaluated published evidence in these fields and concluded that robotic assisted surgery is possible and safe for most urologic operations. Whilst laparoendoscopic single-site surgery is performed using the fewest incisions, the balance between risk and benefit is currently unclear. The evidence to support the conclusions in this guideline was generally poor, but best for robotic assisted radical prostatectomy. As such, these recommendations were based upon expert opinion, and further high-quality research is needed in this field.

Evaluation of open and laparoscopic radical cystoprostatectomy combined with orthotopic neobladder: a single-surgeon experience

AIM

To compare the outcomes of laparoscopic (LRCP) and open radical cystoprostatectomy (ORCP) with orthotopic urinary diversion for muscle-invasive organ-confined bladder cancer by a single surgeon.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospectively documented 15 LRCP and 15 ORCP patients, followed for at least 3 years, were included in our study. The demographic parameters of patients, preoperative radiologic staging, previous operations, surgical outcomes, complications, oncologic results and intermediate-term follow-up, postoperative chemotherapy and follow-up periods were recorded and evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean oncologic follow-up was 3 years. Transfusion rate, estimated blood loss, oral intake and narcotic analgesic requirement were statistically less in the LRCP group (p < 0.05). However, operation time and hospital stay were similar in both groups. The complication rates were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean number of dissected lymph nodes was 20.0 ± 1.7 in the ORCP and 22.6 ± 2.0 in the LRCP group. One patient in each group had a margin positive for bladder cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

The laparoscopic approach may be feasible for muscle-invasive organ-confined bladder cancer. Furthermore, LRCP provides less blood loss, early oral intake and postoperative pain management. Additionally, continence and sexual function may be provided by LRCP as with ORCP.

Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy: current technique and outcomes

Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy continues to evolve as a surgical option in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Current oncologic outcomes appear comparable in the short-term with open radical cystectomy. Long-term follow-up, however, remains lacking for this emerging technique. Modern robotic technology allows a comparable extent of pelvic lymph node dissection as open surgery, a previous criticism of the procedure. Complications compare very favorably to open surgery in comparative series, and blood loss and transfusion rates are routinely lower. Length of stay has been shortened in some series, though not uniformly. Finally, robotic assistance can increase the cost of radical cystectomy.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies reporting early outcomes after robot-assisted radical cystectomy versus open radical cystectomy

BACKGROUND

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) is increasingly being used in the management of bladder cancer. Studies comparing RARC and open radical cystectomy (ORC) have reported conflicting results. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on the efficacy and advantages of RARC compared with ORC.

METHODS

An electronic database search of PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library was performed up to July 8, 2012. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed based on all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational comparative studies assessing the two techniques.

RESULTS

One RCT, eight studies with prospectively collected data, and four retrospective studies were identified, including 962 cases. Although RARC was associated with longer operative time (p<0.001), patients in this group might benefit from less overall perioperative complications (p=0.04), more lymph node yield (p=0.009), less estimated blood loss (p<0.001), a lower need for perioperative transfusion (p<0.001), and shorter length of hospital stay (p<0.001). Positive surgical margins did not differ significantly between techniques. Sensitivity analysis with prospective studies showed similar results to the original analysis, but no significant difference of lymph node yield and length of stay between two techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

RARC is a mini-invasive alternative to ORC with less overall perioperative complications, more lymph node yields, less estimated blood loss, less need for a perioperative transfusion, and shorter length of stay.

Ureteroenteric anastomotic strictures after radical cystectomy-does operative approach matter?

PURPOSE

Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy has been increasingly used to decrease the morbidity of radical cystectomy. However, whether it truly lowers the complication rate compared to open radical cystectomy is not well established. We examined the benign ureteroenteric anastomotic stricture rates of open and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the 478 consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy at our institution from December 2007 to December 2011 we examined the proportion diagnosed with benign ureteroenteric anastomotic stricture. Clinicopathological variables were compared by treatment group. Cox multivariable analysis was performed to determine which patient or disease specific factors were independently associated with stricture diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 375 patients (78.5%) underwent open radical cystectomy and 103 (21.5%) underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy. Of the patients 45 (9.4%) were diagnosed with ureteroenteric anastomotic stricture a median of 5.3 months postoperatively. There was no difference in the stricture rate between the open and robot-assisted groups (8.5% vs 12.6%, p = 0.21). On adjusted Cox proportional hazards analysis no patient variable was independently associated with stricture diagnosis, including operative approach.

CONCLUSIONS

Of the patients 9.4% were diagnosed with benign ureteroenteric anastomotic stricture after radical cystectomy with no significant difference in the risk of diagnosis by surgical approach. No patient or disease specific factor was independently associated with an increased risk of stricture diagnosis. Ureteroenteric anastomotic stricture is likely related to surgical technique. Continued efforts are needed to refine the technique of open and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy to minimize the occurrence of this critical complication.

The first 100 consecutive, robot-assisted, intracorporeal ileal conduits: evolution of technique and 90-day outcomes

BACKGROUND

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) has evolved over the last few years to become an acceptable alternative option to open radical cystectomy. Most series of RARC used an open approach to urinary diversion. Even though robot-assisted intracorporeal urinary diversion (RICUD) is the natural extension of RARC, few centers have reported their experiences with RICUD in general, and in particular, of robot-assisted intracorporeal ileal conduits (RICIC).

OBJECTIVE

To report our experience with RICIC using the Marionette technique.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The first 100 consecutive patients who underwent RARC and RICIC, and had ≥ 3 mo of postoperative follow-up were included in this study. Patients were divided into four groups of 25 patients each to study the evolution of our surgical technique.

INTERVENTION

RICIC.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Intraoperative, pathologic, and 90-d postoperative outcomes for the four groups and the overall cohort were compared using the Fisher exact test (categorical variables) and the Kruskal-Wallis test (continuous variables). Continuous variables were reported as median (range) and categorical variables were specified as frequency (percentage).

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Overall operative and specific diversion times were 352 and 123 min, respectively. Estimated blood loss was 300 ml, lymph node yield was 24, and positive surgical margin rate was 4%. Length of hospital stay increased from 7 d for group 1 to 9 d for group 4. The overall 90-d complication rate was 81%; 19% of complications were high grade. Infections were the most common complications, representing 31% of all complications. There were no statistically significant intergroup differences except in diversion time, intraoperative transfusions, and length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

RICIC diversion is safe, feasible, and reproducible. Larger series with longer follow-up are needed to validate the procedure and define its place in the minimally invasive urologic armamentarium. Quality of life studies need to be conducted to compare benefits of intracorporeal urinary diversion.

[Radical cystectomy - pro laparoscopic]

Although the technical feasibility of laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) has been proven and the procedure has been accepted in the EAU guidelines 2011 as a valid alternative, its actual position has to be determined. On the one hand the advantages of LRC (less blood loss, lower transfusion rates, shorter analgesia time) have been proven in retrospective studies; however, the technical difficulties of purely laparoscopic urinary diversion result in very long operating times and in cases of a laparoscopic-assisted creation of a neobladder, the question of the advantage of this approach remains doubtful. Despite case reports of port metastases and peritoneal carcinosis following laparoscopic and robot-assisted radical cystectomy, there is no difference in terms of oncological long-term data (up to 10 years) between laparoscopy and open surgery performed at centres of excellence. Evidently, the curative options for the patients do not depend on the type of surgery (open versus minimally invasive) but on the efficacy of adjuvant treatment strategies (polychemotherapy). Currently it is believed that LRC should be considered for patients with low risk of progression (pT1-2). The final position of laparoscopic radical cystectomy can only be evaluated in a multicentric randomized controlled trial.

Tissue engineering for the oncologic urinary bladder

Urinary diversion after radical cystectomy in patients with bladder cancer normally takes the form of an ileal conduit or neobladder. However, such diversions are associated with a number of complications including increased risk of infection. A plausible alternative is the construction of a neobladder (or bladder tissue) in vitro using autologous cells harvested from the patient. Biomaterials can be used as a scaffold for naturally occurring regenerative stem cells to latch onto to regrow the bladder smooth muscle and epithelium. Such engineered tissues show great promise in urologic tissue regeneration, but are faced with a number of challenges. For example, the differentiation mesenchymal stem cells from various sources can be difficult and the smooth muscle cells formed do not precisely mimic the natural cells.