Transperitoneal robot-assisted nephroureterectomy with a single body position and original ports: a simplified surgical technique for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of transperitoneal robot-assisted nephroureterectomy (RANU) with a single body position and original ports for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma(UTUC).Methods:Clinical data of 21 patients from March 2018 to November 2019 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University was retrospectively analyzed, including 14 males and 7 females. The age was (63.8±11.4) years and the BMI was (23.6±2.5) kg/m 2.Of the 21 localized UTUC patients, 8 pelvic tumors, 3 middle ureter tumors, 10 lower ureter tumors; 11 on the left, 10 on the right; 20 of 21 tumors (95.2%) were high risk. Surgery was done by the same urologist. Under general anesthesia, the patients were in 75 ° healthy side lying position and overall 15 ° head down and foot high position. Improved layout of ports camera port C was located at two fingers lateral to the umbilicus, 2 cm below the umbilicus; robotic arm port 1 and 2 were respectively located at pararestus line, close to costal margin and 2 cm below the midpoint between C and the affected iliac crest. Assistant port 1 and 2 were respectively located at 2 cm above the umbilicus and 4 cm below the umbilicus. The right cases need an additional assistant port under the xiphoid to provoke the liver. Hem-o-lok cliped the ureter distal to the tumor and the affected kidney was radically removed. Under the principle of tumor free, the ureter and the surrounding bladder wall within 1 cm were excised and the bladder was sutured. Lymphadenectomy was performed when the kidney and ureter were dissociated. Results:All 21 procedures were successful without open surgery or position change and intraoperative complications. No patients required a blood transfusion. The operation time was (205.2±57.3) min. The median intraoperative blood loss was 50 ml (20-120 ml). The median drainage tube indwelling time was 4d(3-7 d) and the median urinary catheter indwelling time was 7 d(5-8 d), the median postoperative hospital stay was 7 d(6-12 d).7 cases(33.3%)of Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ complications after surgery and they all relieved after giving symptomatic treatment. All postoperative pathology showed UTUC and negative resection margins. The median follow-up time was 12 months (4-22 months), 1 patient died of an accident 7 months after surgery and 3 patients had recurrence at 6, 8, and 10 months after surgery, survival at the last follow-up after treatment.Conclusions:The transperitoneal RANU with a single body position and original ports is safe and effective. The operation time is saved, the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications is low, the postoperative patients recover quickly.Short-term follow-up results prompt low recurrence rate and good tumor control effect.