Extraperitoneal Single-Port Robotic-Assisted Radical Cystectomy with Orthotopic Ne-obladder: Technique and Surgical...

Radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and refractory high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (1-3). Single-port robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) offers notable minimally invasive advantages (4-6), whereas conventional transperitoneal approaches are associated with intestinal and gastrointestinal complications (7). This study evaluated an optimized extraperitoneal single-port RARC with orthotopic neobladder reconstruction for improved surgical safety and clinical outcomes.

A 57-year-old male presented with three months of intermittent painless gross hematuria. Pelvic CT revealed a bladder mass. Preoperative biopsy confirmed high-grade urothelial carcinoma with muscularis propria invasion, and the patient received gemcitabine-cisplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical surgery. Preoperative MRI identified a 3.2×2.9×2.6 cm bladder lesion without extravesical invasion or lymphadenopathy. During the procedure, the patient was placed in a supine position with buttocks elevated. A 5-cm infraumbilical single incision was made for da Vinci Xi-assisted extraperitoneal RARC, and a single-port multichannel device was deployed through the incision. Robotic instruments including a 30° endoscope, monopolar scissors, bipolar forceps, and a robotic stapler were arranged in a chopstick configuration. Via the extraperitoneal approach, we mobilized the bilateral ureters, bilateral vas deferens, and umbilical artery, dissected the bladder lateral ligaments with vascular ligation, and established a sufficient extraperitoneal working space. Bladder and prostate dissection was performed along the perivesical avascular plane, with careful protection and precise hemostasis of the dorsal venous complex. Standard pelvic lymphadenectomy was concurrently conducted during radical resection of the bladder and prostate (8). A segment of ileum was then harvested to construct an orthotopic neobladder (9), followed by anastomosis with the bilateral ureters and urethral stump.

Operative time was 400 minutes with 200 mL blood loss and no transfusion. No perioperative complications occurred, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 6. Pathological diagnosis was pT2aN0M0 with negative surgical margins and negative lymph nodes. The 12-month follow-up showed no tumor recurrence, normal renal function, complete daytime continence, and mild nocturnal incontinence requiring one nightly pad.

Extraperitoneal single-port RARC with orthotopic neobladder reconstruction is a feasible minimally invasive procedure for MIBC. The optimized infraumbilical single-incision technique preserves peritoneal integrity and avoids intestinal mobilization, effectively reducing abdominal complications. It achieves reliable oncological results and improves patients' postoperative continence and quality of life.