Retroperitoneal robotic renal surgery: technique and early results

We describe a robotic retroperitoneal approach to renal surgery, optimized in porcine and cadaveric models, and applied to human patients. A retroperitoneal approach for robotic kidney surgery was developed in nonsurvival porcine and a fresh cadaver models, and then utilized in ten patients (three partial nephrectomy, three radical nephrectomy, two simple nephrectomy, one pyeloplasty, one cryoablation). Retroperitoneal access was successfully achieved for robotic renal procedures in six pigs and a human cadaver. Ten human patients (mean age 56 years, range 36-72 years) then underwent a successful retroperitoneal approach for robotic renal surgery. Mean console time was 166 (120-300) min. Mean blood loss was 82 (50-100) ml and average hospital stay was 2.6 (1-5) days. Pathology demonstrated clear cell renal cell carcinoma (four), papillary renal cell carcinoma (two), and xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (two). One patient with xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis required open conversion for failure to progress due to dense adhesions. A retroperitoneal approach is a safe and feasible alternative to a transperitoneal approach for robotic renal surgery, including radical nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, pyeloplasty, and cryoablation.