Perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic partial cystectomy

Reports of surgical outcomes after robotic partial cystectomy are limited. The objective of this study is to review surgical outcomes after robotic partial cystectomy at a large tertiary referral center and compare outcomes with patients undergoing open partial cystectomy. Patients undergoing robotic partial cystectomy between 2003 and 2014 were identified. Patients were matched 2:1 based on gender, age, and Charlson Comorbidity Score with patients undergoing open partial cystectomy during the same time period. Patient charts were reviewed for surgical outcomes. Conditional logistic regression adjusted for matching was used to compare outcomes. At our institution, 11 patients underwent robotic partial cystectomy between 2003 and 2014. Median operative time was significantly longer in the robotic group, 214 (IQR 93, 230) minutes, than the open group, 93 (IQR 58, 143) minutes (p = 0.01). There was no difference in median estimated blood loss (p = 0.1). No patient required transfusion. There were no intraoperative complications. Median hospital stay was significantly shorter in the robotic partial cystectomy group, 1 (IQR 1, 2) day, than the open partial cystectomy group, 2 (IQR 2, 4) days (p = 0.01). Median duration of catheterization and complications within 30 days of surgery were not statistically different between the two groups. Median follow-up was 15.5 (IQR 8.6, 19.7) months for the robotic partial cystectomy group and 40.7 (IQR 6.5, 69.4) months for the open partial cystectomy group. Robotic partial cystectomy is safe, effective, and is associated with minimal morbidity when performed in properly selected patients for benign and malignant indications. When compared with open partial cystectomy, robotic partial cystectomy is associated with a longer operative time, but results in a shorter postoperative hospital stay.