Robotic-assisted vs. open ureteral reimplantation: a multicentre comparison

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Open ureteral reimplantation (OUR) is the standard surgical treatment for distal ureteral strictures or injuries.
• Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted approaches are increasingly utilized for these procedures.
• Comparative data on perioperative outcomes between open and robotic ureteral reimplantation are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the perioperative outcomes and safety of robotic ureteral reimplantation (RUR) versus open ureteral reimplantation (OUR).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective multi-center study comparing 51 RUR cases with 79 OUR cases.
• Assessment of baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes.
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors.

Main Results:

• Robotic ureteral reimplantation (RUR) demonstrated shorter surgery time, hospital stay, and bladder catheter dwell time compared to open ureteral reimplantation (OUR).
• RUR also showed lower estimated blood loss, postoperative blood transfusion rates, and complication rates.
• Multivariate analysis confirmed robotic approach as an independent predictor for shorter operation time, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and shorter catheter dwell time.

Conclusions:

• Robotic ureteral reimplantation (RUR) is a safe and effective alternative to open ureteral reimplantation (OUR).
• RUR offers significant advantages including shorter operative time, decreased blood loss, and reduced length of hospital stay.
• Prospective research is warranted to further elucidate the benefits of the robotic approach.