Robotic-assisted transperitoneal nephron-sparing surgery for small renal masses with associated surgical procedures: surgical technique and preliminary experience

Robot-assisted surgery in elderly and very elderly population: our experience in oncologic and general surgery with literature review

BACKGROUND

Although there is no agreement on a definition of elderly, commonly an age cutoff of ≥65 or 75 years is used. Nowadays most of malignancies requiring surgical treatment are diagnosed in old population. Comorbidities and frailty represent well-known problems during and after surgery in elderly patients. Minimally invasive surgery offers earlier postoperative mobilization, less blood loss, lower morbidity as well as reduction in hospital stay and as such represents an interesting and validated option for elderly population. Robot-assisted surgery is a recent improvement of conventional minimally invasive surgery.

AIMS

We provided a complete review of old and very old patients undergoing robot-assisted surgery for oncologic and general surgery interventions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients undergoing robot-assisted surgery in our General Surgery Unit from September 2012 to June 2016 was conducted. Analysis was performed for the entire cohort and in particular for three of the most performed surgeries (gastric resections, right colectomy, and liver resections) classifying patients into three age groups: ≤64, 65-79, and ≥80. Data from these three different age groups were compared and examined in respect of different outcomes: ASA score, comorbidities, oncologic outcomes, conversion rate, estimated blood loss, hospital stay, geriatric events, mortality, etc.

RESULTS

Using our in-patient robotic surgery database, we retrospectively examined 363 patients, who underwent robot-assisted surgery for different diseases (402 different robotic procedures): colorectal surgery, upper GI, HPB, etc.; the oncologic procedures were 81%. Male were 56%. The mean age was 65.63 years (18-89). Patients aged ≥65 years represented 61% and ≥80 years 13%. Overall conversion rate was of 6%, most in the group 65-79 years (59% of all conversions). The more frequent diseases treated were colorectal surgery 43%, followed by hepatobilopancreatic surgery 23.4%, upper gastro-intestinal 23.2%, and others 10.4%.

DISCUSSION

Robot-assisted surgery is a safe and effective technique in aging patient population too. There was no increased risk of death or morbidity compared to younger patients in the three groups examined. A higher conversion rate was observed in our experience for patients aged 65-79. Prolonged operative time and in any cases steep positions (Trendelenburg) have not represented a problem for the majority of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In any case, considering the high direct costs, minimally invasive robot-assisted surgery should be performed on a case-by-case basis, tailored to each patient with their specific histories and comorbidities.

Renal cavernous hemangioma: robot-assisted partial nephrectomy with selective warm ischemia. Case report and review of the literature

Renal hemangioma is a relatively rare benign tumor with a wide range of clinical and radiological presentation, not easy to differentiate preoperatively from a renal cancer. Due to its benign nature complete surgical resection is the recommended therapy and is considered curative. A 73-year old male patient followed-up for a lung carcinoma and a chronic renal failure underwent a CT scan showing a 35-mm mass of the inferior pole of the left kidney. The patient underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy with left inferior pole selective warm ischemia. The outcome was favorable and no repercussions on the renal reserve were observed postoperatively. Histopathological characteristics of the surgical specimen were consistent with renal cavernous hemangioma. A robot-assisted operation allows the fine dissection required to carry out a bloodless nephron-sparing surgery without a complete warm ischemia. The use of robot could be noteworthy for nephron-sparing surgery in cases of concomitant chronic renal failure.