A systematic review of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy outcomes for advanced indications:Large tumors(cT2-T3),solitary kidney,completely endophytic,hilar,recurrent,and multiple renal tumors

Objective:Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy(RAPN)has become widely used for treatment of renal cell carcinoma and it is expanding in the field of complex renal masses.The aim of this systematic review was to analyze outcomes of RAPN for completely endophytic renal masses,large tumors(cT2-T3),renal cell carcinoma in solitary kidney,recurrent tumors,completely endophytic and hilar masses,and simultaneous and multiple tumors.Methods:A comprehensive search in the PubMed,Scopus,Web of Science,and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases was performed in December 2022 for English language papers.The primary endpoint was to evaluate the role of RAPN in the setting of each category of complex renal masses considered.The secondary endpoint was to evaluate the surgical and functional outcomes.Results:After screening 1250 records,43 full-text manuscripts were selected,comprising over 8500 patients.Twelve and thirteen studies reported data for endophytic and hilar renal masses,respectively.Five and three studies reported outcomes for cT2-T3 and solitary kidney patients,respectively.Four studies focused on redo-RAPN for recurrent tumors.Two studies investigated simultaneous bilateral renal masses and five reports focused on multiple tumor excision in ipsilateral kidney.Conclusion:Over the past decade,evidence supporting the use of RAPN for the most challenging nephron-sparing surgery indications has continuously grown.Although limitations remain including study design and lack of detailed long-term functional and oncological outcomes,the adoption of RAPN for the included advanced indications is associated with favorable surgical outcomes with good preservation of renal function without compromising the oncological result.Certainly,a higher likelihood of complication might be expected when facing extremely challenging cases.However,none of these indications should be considered per se an exclusion criterion for performing RAPN.Ultimately,a risk-adapted approach should be employed.

Absence of asymptomatic unruptured renal artery pseudoaneurysm on contrast-enhanced computed tomography after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy without parenchymal renorrhaphy

Objective:To assess the incidence of asymptomatic unruptured renal artery pseudoaneurysm(RAP)on contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CE-CT)after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy(RAPN)without parenchymal renorrhaphy.Methods:From May 2016 to December 2017,78 patients underwent RAPN for renal tumors.Inner suture was performed in the opened collecting system or renal sinus,whereas parenchymal renorrhaphy was not.For hemostasis,the soft coagulation system was used,and absorbable hemostats were placed on the resection bed.CE-CT was carried out within 7 days after surgery.Data on these patients were prospectively collected.A single radiologist determined the diagnosis of RAP.Results:Median(range)data were as follows:Patient age,65(19-82)years;radiographic tumor size,30(12-95)mm;operating time,166(102-294)min;warm ischemic time,16(7-67)min;and blood loss,15(0-4450)mL.One patient(1.6%)required a perioperative blood transfusion.No patient required conversion to open surgery or nephrectomy.CE-CT was carried out at median 6(3-7)days after surgery.CE-CT showed no RAP development in all 61 patients.Urinary leakage was not observed.One patient had acute cholecystitis,a postoperative complication classified as Clavien-Dindo grade higher than 3,which was treated with cholecystectomy.Positive surgical margin was identified in four patients(6.6%).Conclusion:RAPN using soft coagulation and absorbable hemostats without renorrhaphy appears to be feasible and safe.Our technique could eliminate the risk of RAP.

Current strategies to diagnose and manage positive surgical margins and local recurrence after partial nephrectomy

Objective:No standard strategy for diagnosis and management of positive surgical margin(PSM)and local recurrence after partial nephrectomy(PN)are reported in literature.This review aims to provide an overview of the current strategies and further perspectives on this patient setting.Methods:A non-systematic review of the literature was completed.The research included the most updated articles(about the last 10 years).Results:Techniques for diagnosing PSMs during PN include intraoperative frozen section,imprinting cytology,and other specific tools.No clear evidence is reported about these methods.Regarding PSM management,active surveillance with a combination of imaging and laboratory evaluation is the first option line followed by surgery.Regarding local recurrence management,surgery is the primary curative approach when possible but it may be technically difficult due to anatomy resultant from previous PN.In this scenario,thermal ablation(TA)may have the potential to circumvent these limitations representing a less invasive alternative.Salvage surgery represents a valid option;six studies analyzed the outcomes of nephrectomy on local recurrence after PN with three of these focused on robotic approach.Overall,complication rates of salvage surgery are higher compared to TA but ablation presents a higher recurrence rate up to 25%of cases that can often be managed with repeat ablation.Conclusion:Controversy still exists surrounding the best strategy for management and diagnosis of patients with PSMs or local recurrence after PN.Active surveillance is likely to be the optimal first-line management option for most patients with PSMs.Ablation and salvage surgery both represent valid options in patients with local recurrence after PN.Conversely,salvage PN and radical nephrectomy have fewer recurrences but are associated with a higher complication rate compared to TA.In this scenario,robotic surgery plays an important role in improving salvage PN and radical nephrectomy outcomes.

Heminephrectomy for a large renal mass in a horseshoe kidney: A case report outlining a robotic assisted laparoscopic approach

With an incidence of 1/500,a horseshoe kidney is not uncommon.Tumours discovered in horseshoe kidney however are quite rare,and prove difficult to surgically manage due to complex vascular anatomy.With variable surgical approaches previously described,only a select few robot-assisted cases have been reported.This case describes one such robot-assisted laparoscopic heminephrectomy,with the use of indocyanine green and an endovascular stapler to successfully demarcate ischemia and achieve hemostasis intraoperatively.No complications were encountered,and pathology revealed a pT1bN0 clear cell renal cell carcinoma with negative surgical margins,demonstrating the feasibility of our approach.

术前竖脊肌平面阻滞应用在机器人辅助肾部分切除术的镇痛效果评价

【目的】评价术前竖脊肌平面阻滞(ESPB)应用在机器人辅助肾部分切除(RAPN)术的镇痛效果。【方法】选择接受择期肾部分切除手术的成年患者共100例,随机分为竖脊肌平面阻滞(E组)和胸椎旁神经阻滞组(T组),每组50例。神经阻滞的实施均为超声引导辅助,由熟练的麻醉医生进行操作。神经阻滞局麻药物均采用0.5%罗哌卡因溶液,术后结合应用患者自控静脉镇痛。记录穿刺后成像时间,穿刺使用时间,总穿刺次数,穿刺难度评分,术中泵注瑞芬太尼与丙泊酚的总量,术后24 h内静息和运动视觉模拟评分(VAS),患者自控静脉镇痛泵按压次数,以及穿刺并发症的发生率和满意度。【结果】与T组比较,E组患者神经阻滞成像时间、穿刺使用时间显著缩短,穿刺次数更少,穿刺难度评分也显著降低(P<0.001)。其余观察指标两组间均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。【结论】术前ESPB应用在RAPN围手术期镇痛效果和胸椎旁神经阻滞效果相当,但是ESPB所需操作时间较短,穿刺次数少,难度较低,可能易于初学者掌握。