Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 22, 2025
Retzius-Sparing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
Published on: May 19, 2022
Quality of life and secondary outcomes for open versus robot-assisted radical cystectomy: a double-blinded,
Maja Vejlgaard1,2, Sophia Liff Maibom3,4, Ulla Nordström Joensen3,4
1Urological Research Unit, Department of Urology, Centre for Cancer and Organ Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Ole Maaloes Vej 24, unit 7521, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. maja.vejlgaard.02@regionh.dk.
Purpose:
This study aims to examine quality of life (QoL) before and after radical cystectomy (RC) and compare robot-assisted laparoscopy with intracorporeal urinary diversion (iRARC) to open radical cystectomy (ORC).
Methods:
This study is a predefined secondary analysis of a single-centre, double-blinded, randomised feasibility trial. Fifty patients were randomly assigned to iRARC with ileal conduit (n = 25) or ORC with ileal conduit (n = 25). Patients were followed 90 days postoperatively. The primary outcome was patient-reported QoL using the EORTC Cancer-30 and muscle-invasive bladder cancer BLM-30 QoL questionnaires before and after RC. Differences between randomisation arms as well as changes over time were evaluated. Secondary outcomes included 30- and 90 day complication rates, 90 day readmission rates, and 90 day days-alive-and-out-of-hospital and their relationship to QoL.
Results:
All patients underwent the allocated treatment. We found no difference in QoL, complication rates, readmission rates, and days-alive-and-out-of-hospital between randomisation arms. An overall improvement in QoL was found in the following domains: future perspectives, emotional functioning, and social functioning. Sexual functioning worsened postoperatively. There was no association between having experienced a major complication or lengthy hospitalisation and worse postoperative QoL.
Conclusion:
The QoL does not appear to depend on surgical technique. Apart from sexual functioning, patients report stable or improved QoL within the first 90 postoperative days.
