Contemporary outcomes for robotic radical cystectomy and intracorporeal neobladder urinary diversion

Widespread adoption of robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with totally intracorporeal neobladder urinary diversion (UD) has not been achieved, and there is a dearth of literature exploring its short-term and long-term safety. We aim to present perioperative, complications, and oncologic outcomes for this procedure.

Data from patients who underwent RARC with intracorporeal neobladder UD for bladder cancer between 2003 and 2022 from our multi-institutional cohort was prospectively collected. A retrospective review of this data was performed. The primary outcome was the number of days the patient was alive and outside of the hospital within 90 days postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) at 24-months estimated by Kaplan-Meier plots, and 30-day and 90-day overall and major (Clavien ≥III) complication rates.

Of 410 patients (370 [90%] male), median (IQR) age was 64.2 (58.0, 69.4) and BMI was 26.8 (23.9, 29.1) kg/m². The cohort included 2 (0.5%) cT0, 46 (11%) cTa or cTis, 109 (7%) cT1, 202 (49%) cT2, 47 (11%) cT3, and 4 (1.0%) cT4 tumors preoperatively. Median (IQR) follow-up was 37.6 (11.1, 81.0) months. Surgical margins were positive in 8 (2.0%) patients. Median number of days alive and outside hospital within 90 days postoperatively was 82 (77,85). Clavien III-IV complications occurred in 63 (15%) and 88 (21%) patients within 30 and 90 days, respectively. Clavien V complications occurred in 1 (0.2%) and 2 (0.5%) patients within 30 and 90 days, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimates for RFS, CSS, and OS at 24-months were 78%, 88%, and 86%, respectively.

RARC with intracorporeal neobladder UD led to favorable recovery with increased days alive and out of the hospital within 90-days of surgery compared to open RC series, and major complication rates and oncologic outcomes were in line with prior open RC series.