Complications in robotic urological surgeries and how to avoid them: A systematic review

To review the main complications related to the robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) approach in urology and to suggest measures to avoid such issues.

A systematic search for articles of the contemporary literature was performed in PubMed database for complications in RAL urological procedures focused on positioning, access, and operative technique considerations. Each complication topic is followed by recommendations about how to avoid it.

In all, 40 of 253 articles were included in this analysis. Several complications in RAL procedures can be avoided if the surgical team follows some key steps. Adequate patient positioning must avoid skin, peripheral nerve, and muscles injuries, and ocular and cognitive complications mainly related to steep Trendelenburg positioning in pelvic procedures. Port-site access and closure should not be neglected during minimally invasive procedures as these complications although rare can be troublesome. Technique-related complications depend on surgeon experience and the early learning curve should be monitored.

Adequate patient selection, surgical positioning, mentorship training, and avoiding long-lasting procedures are essential to prevent RAL-related complications. The robotic surgical team must be careful and work together to avoid possible complications. This review offers several steps in surgical planning to reach this goal.