Study on the feasibility and safety of a novel single-port robotic surgical system in zero ischemic partial nephrectomy / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and safety of a novel single-port robotic surgical system with flexible 3D endoscope and deformable surgical instruments in zero ischemic partial nephrectomy.Methods:From May 2021 to October 2021, a prospective study on patients with renal tumor who plan to receive zero ischemic partial nephrectomy was conducted. Inclusion criteria included over 18 years old, body index between 18.5 to 30.0 kg/m2, American Society of Anesthesiologists Score ranged from 1 to 3 points, cooperation with the follow-up and related examinations, voluntary in participating the clinical trial and signing the informed consent. Exclusion criteria included patients with other co-existed malignant tumors or a medical history of other malignant tumors, the patients who have received the same urological surgery in the past, the patients who underwent or plan to undergo other major operations 3 months before or after the surgery, the patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis or severe systemic diseases, the patients to be considered not suitable to enroll in by the researchers. A novel single-port robotic surgical system was used to perform the surgery. The system consiststed of a remote control console, a surgical equipment cart, a four-arm operation cart and deformable robotic instruments which were reusable. The two-section deformable robotic instruments were able to bend in four directions and carried different surgical instruments such as unipolar scissors, bipolar grasping forceps and needle holders. The deformable robotic instruments entered the body through a special trocar with single hole and multi-channel, and then unfolded in a triangle. By bending instruments, surgeons could perform single-port robotic surgery without the trouble of "chopstick effect" or "reverse direction" . Four cases of single-port partial nephrectomy were carried out. Under general anesthesia, the patients were taken the lateral recumbent position, with elevated waist and lowered head and feet. A 3-4 cm incision was taken layer by layer along the lateral edge of the rectus abdominis at the umbilicus level. A special 2.5 cm robotic trocar was set into the cavity, and a high-definition 3D laparoscopic lens and a snake shaped mechanical arm were then put into the abdominal cavity through the trocar. All operations were performed by transperitoneal approach with an auxiliary port through the same or a different skin incision if necessary. Tumor resection and renal reconstruction were performed by the way of zero ischemia. The perioperative parameters such as tumor size, operation time, intraoperative bleeding and postoperative complications were analyzed.Results:Four patients were involved, including 2 males and 2 females, with 2 of them having a history of hypertension. The ECOG scores were all 0, and KPS score was 100 in 3 cases and 90 in 1 case. Preoperative mean serum creatinine was (76.8±18.8)μmol/L (range 70-104 μmol/L). The tumors were located on the left in 3 cases and on the right in 1 case. The diameter of the tumor ranged from 1.1 to 2.8 cm, with the TNM classification of T 1a. The R. E.N.A.L. scores were 4a, 7p, 6p and 4P respectively. The first operation was performed by pure single-port surgery, and the other 3 cases were performed with the help of an auxiliary port to ensure the safety .The operation time ranged from 155 min to 210 min, and the intraoperative bleeding ranged from 20 ml to 170 ml. Postoperative pathology showed 2 cases of renal clear cell carcinoma with negative margin and 2 cases of angiomyolipoma. No severe complications, such as bleeding or urinary leakage, were observed during the perioperative period, and the change of serum creatinine was insignificant before discharge and before operation( P=0.24). Conclusions:A robotic single-port partial nephrectomy can be successfully carried out by using this novel single-port robotic surgical system with flexible 3D endoscope and deformable surgical instruments.