Obesity Is Not Associated with Increased Operative Complications in Single-Site Robotic Partial Nephrectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of high body mass index (BMI) on outcomes following robotic laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (R-LESS) robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RPN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 83 Korean patients who had undergone robotic partial nephrectomy from 2006 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The subjects were stratified into two groups according to WHO definitions for the Asian population, consisting of 56 normal range (BMI=18.5-24.99 kg/m2) and 27 obese (> or =25 kg/m2) patients. Outcome measurements included Trifecta achievement and the perioperative and postoperative comparison between high and normal BMI series. The measurements were estimated and analyzed with SPSS version 17. RESULTS: Tumor's complexity characteristics (R.E.N.A.L. score, tumor size) of both groups were similar. No significant differences existed between the two groups with regard to operative time (p=0.27), warm ischemia time (p=0.35) estimated blood loss (p=0.42), transfusion rate (p=0.48) renal function following up for 1 year, positive margins (p=0.24) and postoperative complication rate (p=0.34). Trifecta was achieved in 5 (18.5%) obese and 19 (33.9%) normal weight patients, respectively (p=0.14). In multivariable analysis, only tumor size was significantly correlated with the possibility of Trifecta accomplishment. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that R-LESS RPN can be effectively and safely performed in patients with increased BMI, since Trifecta rate, and perioperative and postoperative outcomes are not significantly different in comparison to normal weight subjects.

Robot-Assisted Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Partial Nephrectomy With the Novel Da Vinci Single-Site Platform: Initial Experience

PURPOSE: To report our initial clinical cases of robotic laparoendoscopic single-site (R-LESS) partial nephrectomy (PN) performed with the use of the novel Da Vinci R-LESS platform. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three patients underwent R-LESS PN from November 2013 through February 2014. Perioperative and postoperative outcomes were collected and intraoperative difficulties were noted. RESULTS: Operative time and estimated blood loss volume ranged between 100 and 110 minutes and between 50 and 500 mL, respectively. None of the patients was transfused. All cases were completed with the off-clamp technique, whereas one case required conversion to the conventional (multiport) approach because of difficulty in creating the appropriate scope for safe tumor resection. No major postoperative complications occurred, and all tumors were resected in safe margins. Length of hospital stay ranged between 3 and 7 days. The lack of EndoWrist movements, the external collisions, and the bed assistant's limited working space were noticed to be the main drawbacks of this surgical method. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial experience with R-LESS PN with the novel Da Vinci platform shows that even though the procedure is feasible, it should be applied in only appropriately selected patients. However, further improvement is needed to overcome the existing limitations.