Comparison of selective parenchymal clamping to hilar clamping during robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy

Open partial nephrectomy: current review

Partial nephrectomy (PN) is increasingly considered the gold standard treatment for localized renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) where technically feasible. The advantage of nephron-sparing surgery lies in preservation of parenchyma and hence renal function. However, this advantage is counterbalanced with increased surgical risk. In recent years with the popularization of minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (laparoscopic and robotic), the contemporary role of open PN (OPN) has changed. OPN has several advantages, particularly in complex patients such as those with a solitary kidney, multi-focal tumors, and significant surgical history, as well as providing improved application of renoprotective measures. As such, it is a technique that remains relevant in current urology practice. In this article we discuss the evidence, indications, operative considerations and surgical technique, along with the role of OPN in contemporary nephron-sparing surgery.

Comparing Off-clamp and On-clamp Robot-assisted Partial Nephrectomy: A Prospective Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether performing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy without warm ischemia "off-clamp" results in favorable postoperative renal functional outcomes compared with the on-clamp method.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective trial of 80 patients who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. They were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo the procedure with renal artery clamping or without clamping. The groups were compared across demographics, operative information, perioperative outcomes, and postoperative renal function. We assessed renal function by estimated glomerular filtration rate and renal scintigraphy both preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Patients in the on-clamp and off-clamp groups were similar in age, gender, body mass index, comorbidities, clinical tumor size, nephrometry score, and laterality. Off-clamp procedures were lengthier at an average 178.0 minutes vs 156.0 minutes for on-clamp (P = .011). Estimated blood loss, rates of pelvicalyceal repair, postoperative complications, and positive margins were not different. At a median 3-month follow-up, no significant differences were seen in change in postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate or percent split renal function between both groups.

CONCLUSION

In this prospective study, off-clamp robot-assisted partial nephrectomy resulted in similar perioperative outcomes compared with the on-clamp technique. No benefit was demonstrated in the preservation of renal function. Urologists may safely employ either an on-clamp or off-clamp strategy depending on surgeon preference and patient-specific factors including baseline renal insufficiency, multiple masses, or solitary kidney.

Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy: A Narrative Review and Comparison with Open and Robotic Partial Nephrectomy

INTRODUCTION

Kidney cancer ranks among the top 10 most prevalent cancers in Western society, ∼90% of which are renal cell carcinomas. There has been a paradigm shift in the management of small renal masses with strong emphasis now placed on nephron-sparing surgery and increased utilization of laparoscopic approaches to partial nephrectomy. In this review, the current state of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) is discussed.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The PubMed database was queried using the MeSH terms "laparoscopy" and "nephrectomy," as well as the search term "partial." A search was performed filtering for "clinical trial," "review," "humans", and "English."

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Articles that discussed intraoperative techniques, functional and oncologic outcomes, and a comparison between robot-assisted partial nephrectomy and LPN were synthesized.

CONCLUSION

LPN reduces ischemia time, affords equivalent functional outcomes, oncologic outcomes, and equivalent complication rates compared with open partial nephrectomy. Future advances in laparoscopic technique and advancements in robotic technology offer potential to improve surgical and patient outcomes.

Preoperative evaluation of renal artery anatomy using computed tomography angiography to guide the superselective clamping of renal arterial branches during a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical value of preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) imaging for guiding the superselective clamping of renal arterial branches during a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN). A total of 42 patients with renal masses of <4 cm, who had undergone a LNP, were retrospectively enrolled in the study between May 2008 and December 2013. CTA was performed preoperatively and the renal arterial anatomy was evaluated independently by two radiologists. Surgical observations, including the number, location and branching patterns of the renal arteries, were documented by the surgeon. Subsequently, the description of the renal arterial anatomy obtained using CTA was compared with the actual renal vascular structure observed during surgery. In total, 42 patients successfully underwent an LNP with superselective clamping of the renal arterial branches. The accuracy of CTA for the detection of the renal artery and renal tumor-feeding branches was 97.6 and 85.7%, respectively. The CTA images facilitated the correct identification of 36/36 single renal arteries (100%), while 5/6 renal accessory arteries were preoperatively detected using the CTA images. Statistical analyses indicated no statistically significant differences between the preoperative CTA and surgical LPN results for the number of clamped segmental arteries. Therefore, CTA was demonstrated to accurately visualize renal vascular anatomy and provide an advantage by enhancing the detection of tumor-feeding arteries. Thus, the use of CTA may facilitate improved segmental renal artery clamping during LPN.

Emerging technologies to improve techniques and outcomes of robotic partial nephrectomy: striving toward the pentafecta

The technique of robotic partial nephrectomy continues to evolve, but the goals remain the same. Achievement of pentafecta outcomes is difficult to obtain; however, surgeons should continue to strive for this standard of excellence. The future continues to be bright for patients and surgeons alike in continuing to perform robot-assisted partial nephrectomy.