Robotic partial nephrectomy: An initial experience in 25 consecutive cases

Abstract

Objective: To report our initial experience with robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) in a series of 25 consecutively operated patients. Material and methods: A series of 25 consecutive patients who underwent RPN from April 2010 to February 2011 were studied. We used the da Vinci S HD robotic system with transperitoneal approach. Total renal hilum control was used for 22 cases and 3 patients underwent selective renal parenchymal compression with an ad hoc device. Results: Mean age was 55.8 years (26---77) with a male/female ratio of 2:1. Mean operative time was 117.6 min (54---205) and the warm ischemia time was 20.2 min (9---34). Mean estimated blood loss was 440 ml (20---2000) and the mean tumor size was 3.25 cm (1---5.3). Five patients (20%) had complications, the most frequent being intraoperative bleeding (Clavien II). There was no conversion to open or laparoscopic surgery. Mean hospital stay was 3.5 days (1---7). The pathological study revealed renal cell carcinoma in 19 cases and benign lesions in 6 patients. There were no positive surgical margins and no mortality. Conclusions: Our preliminary results show that RPN is a feasible surgical approach in small-sized renal tumors.