Association Between Acute Kidney Injury and the Trendelenburg Position Angle During Robot-assisted Radical...

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has been widely adopted as the standard treatment for localized prostate cancer. RARP is safer and results in better oncological control than conventional open total prostatectomy. However, it has also been reported that acute kidney injury (AKI) can be caused by the use of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum and a steep Trendelenburg position. We investigated the incidence of AKI after RARP and its relationship with the Trendelenburg position angle.

Seventy-seven patients underwent RARP at our institution. They were divided into two groups: Those in which a Trendelenburg position with the head down at 20 degrees was employed (group A) and those in which a Trendelenburg position with the head down at 25 degrees was used (group B). To detect AKI, the serum creatinine concentration was measured at the following four points: Prior to surgery, on postoperative day 0 (immediately after RARP), and on postoperative days 1 and 6 after RARP.

The incidence of AKI on POD 0 was lower in group B than in group A (p=0.0408). On POD 6, the renal function of all patients had improved to preoperative levels. Hypertension was a predictor of the incidence of AKI immediately after RARP.

Although there was a significant Trendelenburg position angle-dependent difference in the incidence of AKI immediately after RARP, it was temporary. Hypertension is a predictor of AKI immediately after RARP. It is recommended that a 25-degree Trendelenburg position angle should be employed during RARP.